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CONTENTS
Cover
TitlePage
Dedication
1.TheBigBulletinBoard
2.BeingFlat
3.StanleytheKite
4.TheMuseumThieves
5.Arthur ’sGoodIdea
AMorningSurprise
AbouttheAuthor
OtherWorks
Copyright
AboutthePublisher
1
TheBigBulletinBoard
Breakfastwasready.“Iwillgowaketheboys,”Mrs.Lambchopsaidtoherhusband,GeorgeLambchop.Justthentheir
youngerson,Arthur,calledfromthebedroomhesharedwithhisbrother,Stanley.“Hey!Comeandlook!Hey!”Mr.andMrs.Lambchopwerebothverymuchinfavorofpolitenessandcarefulspeech.“Hayis
forhorses,Arthur,notpeople,”Mr.Lambchopsaidastheyenteredthebedroom.“Trytorememberthat.”
“Excuseme,”Arthursaid.“Butlook!”He pointed to Stanley’s bed.Across it lay the enormous bulletin board thatMr.Lambchop had
given the boys aChristmas ago so that they could pin up pictures andmessages andmaps. It hadfallen,duringthenight,ontopofStanley.
ButStanleywasnothurt.Infact,hewouldstillhavebeensleepingifhehadnotbeenwokenbyhisbrother ’sshout.
“What’sgoingonhere?”hecalledoutcheerfullyfrombeneaththeenormousboard.Mr.andMrs.Lambchophurriedtoliftitfromthebed.“Heavens!”saidMrs.Lambchop.“Gosh!”saidArthur.“Stanley’sflat!”
“Asapancake,”saidMr.Lambchop.“DarndestthingI’veeverseen.”
“Let’sallhavebreakfast,”Mrs.Lambchopsaid.“ThenStanleyandIwillgoseeDr.Danandhearwhathehastosay.”
Inhisoffice,Dr.DanexaminedStanleyallover.“Howdoyoufeel?”heasked.“Doesithurtverymuch?”“IfeltsortofticklyforawhileafterIgotup,”StanleyLambchopsaid,“butIfeelfinenow.”“Well,that’smostlyhowitiswiththesecases,”saidDr.Dan.“We’ll just have to keep an eye on this young fellow,” he said when he had finished the
examination. “Sometimes we doctors, despite all our years of training and experience, can onlymarvelathowlittlewereallyknow.”
Mrs.LambchopsaidshethoughtStanley’sclotheswouldhavetobealteredbythetailornow,soDr.DantoldhisnursetotakeStanley’smeasurements.
Mrs.Lambchopwrotethemdown.Stanleywasfourfeettall,aboutafootwide,andhalfaninchthick.
2
BeingFlat
WhenStanleygotusedtobeingflat,heenjoyedit.Hecouldgoinandoutofrooms,evenwhenthedoorwasclosed,justbylyingdownandslidingthroughthecrackatthebottom.
Mr.andMrs.Lambchopsaiditwassilly,buttheywerequiteproudofhim.Arthurgotjealousandtriedtoslideunderadoor,buthejustbangedhishead.
Beingflatcouldalsobehelpful,Stanleyfound.Hewas takingawalkwithMrs.Lambchoponeafternoonwhenher favorite ring fell fromher
finger.The ring rolled across the sidewalk anddownbetween thebarsof agrating that covered adeep,darkshaft.Mrs.Lambchopbegantocry.
“Ihaveanidea,”Stanleysaid.Hetookthelacesoutofhisshoesandanextrapairoutofhispocketandtiedthemalltogetherto
makeonelonglace.Thenhetiedoneendofthattothebackofhisbeltandgavetheotherendtohismother.
“Lowerme,”hesaid,“andIwilllookforthering.”
“Thankyou,Stanley,”Mrs.Lambchop said.She loweredhimbetween thebars andmovedhimcarefullyupanddownandfromsidetoside,sothathecouldsearchthewholeflooroftheshaft.
TwopolicemencamebyandstaredatMrs.Lambchopasshestoodholdingthelonglacethatrandownthroughthegrating.Shepretendednottonoticethem.
“What’sthematter,lady?”thefirstpolicemanasked.“Isyouryo-yostuck?”“Iamnotplayingwithayo-yo!”Mrs.Lambchopsaidsharply.“Mysonisattheotherendofthis
lace,ifyoumustknow.”“Getthenet,Harry,”saidthesecondpoliceman.“Wehavecaughtacuckoo!”Justthen,downintheshaft,Stanleycriedout,“Hooray!”Mrs.Lambchoppulledhimupandsawthathehadthering.“Goodforyou,Stanley,”shesaid.Thensheturnedangrilytothepolicemen.“Acuckoo,indeed!”shesaid.“Shame!”Thepolicemenapologized.“Wedidn’tget it, lady,” theysaid.“Wehavebeenhasty.Wesee that
now.”“People should think twice beforemaking rude remarks,” saidMrs. Lambchop. “And then not
makethematall.”
Thepolicemenrealizedthatwasagoodruleandsaidtheywouldtrytorememberit.
One day Stanley got a letter from his friend Thomas Anthony Jeffrey, whose family had movedrecentlytoCalifornia.Aschoolvacationwasabouttobegin,andStanleywasinvitedtospenditwiththeJeffreys.
“Oh,boy!”Stanleysaid.“Iwouldlovetogo!”Mr.Lambchopsighed.“Around-triptrainorairplanetickettoCaliforniaisveryexpensive,”he
said.“Iwillhavetothinkofsomecheaperway.”WhenMr.Lambchopcamehomefromtheofficethatevening,hebroughtwithhimanenormous
brown-paperenvelope.
“Nowthen,Stanley,”hesaid.“Trythisforsize.”TheenvelopefitStanleyverywell.Therewasevenroomleftover,Mrs.Lambchopdiscovered,
foranegg-saladsandwichmadewiththinbread,andatoothbrushcasefilledwithmilk.Theyhadtoputagreatmanystampsontheenvelopetopayforbothairmailandinsurance,butit
wasstillmuchlessexpensivethanatrainorairplanetickettoCalifornia.The next dayMr. andMrs. Lambchop slid Stanley into his envelope, alongwith the egg-salad
sandwich and the toothbrush case full of milk, and mailed him from the box on the corner. Theenvelopehadtobefoldedtofitthroughtheslot,butStanleywasalimberboy,andinsidetheboxhestraightenedrightupagain.
Mrs.LambchopwasnervousbecauseStanleyhadneverbeenawayfromhomealonebefore.Sherappedonthebox.
“Canyouhearme,dear?”shecalled.“Areyouallright?”Stanley’svoicecamequiteclearly.“I’mfine.CanIeatmysandwichnow?”“Wait an hour. And try not to get overheated, dear,” Mrs. Lambchop said. Then she and Mr.
Lambchopcriedout,“Good-bye,good-bye!”andwenthome.Stanley had a fine time in California.When the visit was over, the Jeffreys returned him in a
beautifulwhiteenvelopetheyhadmadethemselves.Ithadred-and-bluemarkingstoshowthatitwasairmail, and Thomas Jeffrey had lettered it “Valuable” and “Fragile” and “This EndUp” on bothsides.
BackhomeStanley toldhis family that hehadbeenhandled so carefullyhenever felt a singlebump.Mr.Lambchopsaiditprovedthatjetplaneswerewonderful,andsowasthePostalService,andthatthiswasagreatageinwhichtolive.
Stanleythoughtsotoo.
3
StanleytheKite
Mr.LambchophadalwayslikedtotaketheboysoutwithhimonSundayafternoons,toamuseumorroller-skating in the park, but itwas difficultwhen theywere crossing streets ormoving about incrowds.StanleyandArthurwouldoftenbe jostled fromhis sideandMr.Lambchopworriedaboutspeedingtaxisorthathurryingpeoplemightaccidentallyknockthemdown.
ItwaseasierafterStanleygotflat.Mr.LambchopdiscoveredthathecouldrollStanleyupwithouthurtinghimatall.Hewouldtiea
pieceof stringaroundStanley tokeephim fromunrollingandmakea little loop in the string forhimself.Itwasassimpleascarryingaparcel,andhecouldholdontoArthurwiththeotherhand.
Stanleydidnotmindbeingcarriedbecausehehadnevermuchlikedtowalk.Arthurdidn’tliketowalkeither,buthehadto.Itmadehimmad.
One Sunday afternoon, in the street, they met Ralph Jones, an old college friend of Mr.Lambchop’s.
“Well,George,Iseeyouhaveboughtsomewallpaper,”Mr.Jonessaid.“Goingtodecorateyourhouse,Isuppose?”
“Wallpaper?”saidMr.Lambchop.“Oh,no.ThisismysonStanley.”HeundidthestringandStanleyunrolled.“Howdoyoudo?”Stanleysaid.“Nicetomeetyou,youngfeller,”themansaid.“George,”hesaidtoMr.Lambchop,“thatboyis
flat.”
“Smart,too,”Mr.Lambchopsaid.“Stanleyisthirdfromthetopinhisclassatschool.”“Phooey!”saidArthur.“Thisismyyoungerson,Arthur,”Mr.Lambchopsaid.“Andhewillapologizeforhisrudeness.”Arthurcouldonlyblushandapologize.Mr.LambchoprolledStanleyupagainandtheysetoutforhome.Itrainedquitehardwhilethey
were on the way. Stanley, of course, hardly got wet at all, just around the edges, but Arthur gotsoaked.
LatethatnightMr.andMrs.Lambchopheardanoiseoutinthelivingroom.TheyfoundArthurlying on the floor near the bookcase. He had piled a great many volumes of the EncyclopaediaBritannicaontopofhimself.
“Putsomemoreonme,”Arthursaidwhenhesawthem.“Don’tjuststandthere.Helpme.”
Mr.andMrs.Lambchopsenthimbacktobed,butthenextmorningtheyspoketoStanley.“Arthurcan’thelpbeingjealous,”theysaid.“Benicetohim.You’rehisbigbrother,afterall.”
ThenextSunday,StanleyandArthurwenttotheparkbythemselves.Thedaywassunny,butwindytoo,andmanyolderboyswereflyingbeautiful,enormouskiteswithlongtails,madeinallthecolorsoftherainbow.
Arthursighed.“Someday,”hesaid,“Iwillhaveabigkite,andIwillwinakite-flyingcontestandbefamouslikeeveryoneelse.NobodyknowswhoIamthesedays.”
Stanley remembered what his parents had said. He went to a boy whose kite was broken andborrowedalargespoolofstring.
“Youcanflyme,Arthur,”hesaid.“Comeon.”He attached the string to himself and gaveArthur the spool to hold.He ran lightly across the
grass,sidewaystogetupspeed,andthenheturnedtomeetthebreeze.Up,up,up…UP!wentStanley,beingakite.Heknewjusthowtomanageonthegustsofwind.Hefacedfullintothewindifhewantedtorise,
andletittakehimfrombehindwhenhewantedspeed.Hehadonlytoturnhisthinedgetothewind,carefully,alittleatatime,sothatitdidnotholdhim,andthenhewouldslipgracefullydowntowardtheearthagain.
Arthurletoutall thestring,andStanleysoaredhighabovethetrees,abeautifulsightinhisredshirtandbluetrousersagainstthepalebluesky.
Everyoneintheparkstoodstilltowatch.Stanleyswoopedrightandthenleftinlong,matchedswoops.Heheldhisarmsbyhissidesand
zoomedatthegroundlikearocketandcurvedupagaintowardthesun.Heside-slippedandcircled,andmadefigureeightsandcrossesandastar.
NobodyhaseverflownthewayStanleyLambchopflewthatday.Probablynooneeverwillagain.After awhile,of course,peoplegrew tiredofwatching, andArthurgot tiredof runningabout
withtheemptyspool.Stanleywentrighton,though,showingoff.Threeboyscameup toArthur and invitedhim to join them for ahotdogand somesodapop.
Arthurleftthespoolwedgedintheforkofatree.Hedidnotnotice,whilehewaseatingthehotdog,thatthewindwasblowingthestringandtanglingitaboutthetree.
Thestringgotshorterandshorter,butStanleydidnotrealizehowlowhewasuntilleavesbrushedhisfeet,andthenitwastoolate.Hegotstuckinthebranches.FifteenminutespassedbeforeArthurandtheotherboysheardhiscriesandclimbeduptosethimfree.
Stanley would not speak to his brother that evening, and at bedtime, even though Arthur hadapologized,hewasstillcross.
Alone with Mr. Lambchop in the living room, Mrs. Lambchop sighed and shook her head.“You’re at the office all day, having fun,” she said. “Youdon’t realizewhat I go throughwith theboys.They’reverydifficult.”
“Kidsarelikethat,”Mr.Lambchopsaid.“Phases.Bepatient,dear.”
4
TheMuseumThieves
Mr.andMrs.O.JayDartlivedintheapartmentabovetheLambchops.Mr.Dartwasanimportantman,thedirectoroftheFamousMuseumofArtdowntowninthecity.
StanleyLambchophadnoticedintheelevatorthatMr.Dart,whowasordinarilyacheerfulman,hadbecomequitegloomy,buthehadnoideawhatthereasonwas.AndthenatbreakfastonemorningheheardMr.andMrs.LambchoptalkingaboutMr.Dart.
“Isee,”saidMr.Lambchop,readingthepaperoverhiscoffeecup,“thatstillanotherpaintinghasbeenstolenfromtheFamousMuseum.Itsayshere thatMr.O.JayDart, thedirector, isathiswits’end.”
“Oh,dear!Arethepolicenohelp?”Mrs.Lambchopasked.“It seemsnot,”saidMr.Lambchop.“Listen towhat theChiefofPolice told thenewspaper. ‘We
suspectagangofsneakthieves.Thesearetheworstkind.Theyworkbysneakery,whichmakesthemverydifficult tocatch.However,mymenandIwillkeeptrying.Meanwhile,IhopepeoplewillbuyticketsforthePolicemen’sBallandnotparktheircarswheresignssaydon’t.’”
ThenextmorningStanleyLambchopheardMr.Darttalkingtohiswifeintheelevator.“Thesesneakthievesworkatnight,”Mr.Dartsaid.“Itisveryhardforourguardstostayawake
when they have been on duty all day.And the FamousMuseum is so big, we cannot guard everypictureatthesametime.Ifearitishopeless,hopeless,hopeless!”
Suddenly,asifanelectriclightbulbhadlitupintheairabovehishead,givingoutlittleshootinglinesofexcitement,StanleyLambchophadanidea.HetoldittoMr.Dart.
“Stanley,”Mr.Dartsaid,“ifyourmotherwillgiveherpermission,Iwillputyouandyourplantoworkthisverynight!”
Mrs.Lambchopgaveherpermission.“Butyouwillhavetotakealongnapthisafternoon,”shesaid.“Iwon’thaveyouuptillallhoursunlessyoudo.”
Thatevening,afteralongnap,StanleywentwithMr.DarttotheFamousMuseum.Mr.Darttookhiminto themainhall,where thebiggestandmost importantpaintingswerehung.Hepointed toahugepaintingthatshowedabeardedman,wearingafloppyvelvethat,playingaviolinforaladywholayonacouch.Therewasahalf-man,half-horsepersonstandingbehindthem,andthreefatchildrenwithwingswereflyingaroundabove.That,Mr.Dartexplained,wasthemostexpensivepaintingintheworld!
Therewasanemptypictureframeontheoppositewall.Weshallhearmoreaboutthatlateron.Mr.DarttookStanleyintohisofficeandsaid,“Itistimeforyoutoputonadisguise.”“Ialreadythoughtofthat,”StanleyLambchopsaid,“andIbroughtone.Mycowboysuit.Ithasa
redbandannathatIcantieovermyface.Nobodywillrecognizemeinamillionyears.”“No,”Mr.Dartsaid.“YouwillhavetowearthedisguiseIhavechosen.”Fromaclosethetookawhitedresswithabluesash,apairofshinylittlepointedshoes,awide
strawhatwithabluebandthatmatchedthesash,andawigandastick.Thewigwasmadeofblondhair,longanddoneinringlets.Thestickwascurvedatthetopandit,too,hadablueribbononit.
“In this shepherdessdisguise,”Mr.Dart said, “youwill look like apainting thatbelongs in themainhall.Wedonothavecowboypicturesinthemainhall.”
Stanleywassodisgusted,hecouldhardlyspeak.“Iwill look likeagirl, that’swhat Iwill looklike,”hesaid.“IwishIhadneverhadmyidea.”
Buthewasagoodsport,soheputonthedisguise.Backinthemainhall,Mr.DarthelpedStanleyclimbupintotheemptypictureframe.Stanleywas
abletostayinplacebecauseMr.Darthadcleverlyputfoursmallspikesinthewall,oneforeachhandandfoot.
Theframewasaperfectfit.Againstthewall,Stanleylookedjustlikeapicture.“Exceptforonething,”Mr.Dartsaid.“Shepherdessesaresupposedtolookhappy.Theysmileat
theirsheepandatthesky.Youlookfierce,nothappy,Stanley.”Stanleytriedhardtogetafarawaylookinhiseyesandeventosmilealittlebit.Mr.Dartstoodbackafewfeetandstaredathimforamoment.“Well,”hesaid,“itmaynotbeart,
butIknowwhatIlike.”HewentofftomakesurethatcertainotherpartsofStanley’splanweretakencareof,andStanley
wasleftalone.Itwasverydarkinthemainhall.Alittlebitofmoonlightcamethroughthewindows,andStanley
couldjustmakeouttheworld’smostexpensivepaintingontheoppositewall.Hefeltasthoughthebeardedmanwith the violin and the lady on the couch and the half-horse person and the wingedchildrenwereallwaiting,ashewas,forsomethingtohappen.
Timepassedandhegottirederandtireder.Anyonewouldbetiredthislateatnight,especiallyifhehadtostandinapictureframebalancingonlittlespikes.
Maybetheywon’tcome,Stanleythought.Maybethesneakthieveswon’tcomeatall.
Themoonwentbehindacloudandthenthemainhallwaspitch-dark.Itseemedtogetquieter,too,withthedarkness.Therewasabsolutelynosoundatall.Stanleyfeltthehaironthebackofhisneckpricklebeneaththegoldencurlsofthewig.
Cr-eee-eee-k…
Thecreakingsoundcamefromrightoutinthemiddleofthemainhall,andevenasheheard
it,Stanleysaw,inthesameplace,atinyyellowglowoflight!
Thecreakingcameagain,andtheglowgotbigger.Atrapdoorhadopenedinthefloor,and
twomencameupthroughitintothehall!
Stanleyunderstoodeverythingallatonce.Thesemustbethesneakthieves!Theyhadasecret
trapdoorentranceintothemuseumfromoutside.Thatwaswhytheyhadneverbeencaught.And
now,tonight,theywerebacktostealthemostexpensivepaintingintheworld!
Heheldverystillinhispictureframeandlistenedtothesneakthieves.
“This is it,Max,” said the first one. “This is wherewe art robbers pull a sensational job
whilstthecivilizedcommunitysleeps.”
“Right,Luther,”saidtheotherman.“Inallthisgreatcity,thereisnoonetosuspectus.”
Ha,ha!thoughtStanleyLambchop.That’swhatyouthink!
Thesneakthievesputdowntheirlanternandtooktheworld’smostexpensivepaintingoffthe
wall.
“Whatwouldwedotoanyonewhotriedtocaptureus,Max?”thefirstmanasked.
“Wewouldkillhim.Whatelse?”hisfriendreplied.
Thatwas enough to frightenStanley, andhewas evenmore frightenedwhenLuther came
overandstaredathim.
“Thissheepgirl,”Luthersaid.“Ithoughtsheepgirlsweresupposedtosmile,Max.Thisone
looksscared.”
Justintime,Stanleymanagedtogetafarawaylookinhiseyesagainandtosmile,sortof.
“You’recrazy,Luther,”Maxsaid.“She’ssmiling.Andwhataprettylittlethingsheis,too.”
ThatmadeStanleyfurious.Hewaiteduntilthesneakthieveshadturnedbacktotheworld’s
most expensive painting, and he shouted in his loudest, most terrifying voice: “POLICE!
POLICE!MR.DART!THESNEAKTHIEVESAREHERE!”
Thesneakthieveslookedateachother.“Max,”saidthefirstone,veryquietly.“IthinkIheardthesheepgirlyell.”
“IthinkIdidtoo,”saidMaxinaquiveryvoice.“Oh,boy!Yellingpictures.Webothneedarest.”
“You’ll get a rest, all right!” shoutedMr.Dart, rushing inwith theChief of Police and lots ofguardsandpolicemenbehindhim.“You’llgetar-rested,that’swhat!Ha,ha,ha!”
ThesneakthievesweretoomixedupbyMr.Dart’sjokeandtoofrightenedbythepolicementoputupafight.
Beforetheyknewit,theyhadbeenhandcuffedandledawaytojail.Thenextmorning in theofficeof theChiefofPolice,StanleyLambchopgotamedal.Theday
afterthathispicturewasinallthenewspapers.
5
Arthur’sGoodIdea
ForawhileStanleyLambchopwasafamousname.EverywherethatStanleywent,peoplestaredandpointedathim.Hecouldhear themwhisper, “Over there,Agnes,over there!ThatmustbeStanleyLambchop,theonewhocaughtthesneakthieves…”andthingslikethat.
But after a fewweeks thewhispering and the staring stopped. People had other things to thinkabout.Stanleydidnotmind.Beingfamoushadbeenfun,butenoughwasenough.
Andthencameafurtherchange,anditwasnotapleasantone.Peoplebegantolaughandmakefunofhimashepassedby.“Hello,Super-Skinny!”theywouldshout,andevenruderthings,aboutthewayhelooked.
Stanleytoldhisparentshowhefelt.“It’stheotherkidsImostlymind,”hesaid.“Theydon’tlikemeanymorebecauseI’mdifferent.Flat.”
“Shameonthem,”Mrs.Lambchopsaid.“It iswrongtodislikepeoplefor theirshapes.Ortheirreligion,forthatmatter,orthecoloroftheirskin.”
“Iknow,”Stanleysaid.“Onlymaybeit’simpossibleforeverybodytolikeeverybody.”“Perhaps,”saidMrs.Lambchop.“Buttheycantry.”Later that nightArthurLambchopwaswoken by the sound of crying. In the darkness he crept
acrosstheroomandkneltbyStanley’sbed.“Areyouokay?”hesaid.“Goaway,”Stanleysaid.“Don’tbemadatme,”Arthur said.“You’re stillmadbecause I letyouget tangled thedayyou
weremykite,Iguess.”“Skipit,willyou?”Stanleysaid.“I’mnotmad.Goaway.”“Pleaselet’sbefriends….”Arthurcouldn’thelpcryingalittle,too.“Oh,Stanley,”hesaid.“Please
tellmewhat’swrong.”Stanley waited for a long time before he spoke. “The thing is,” he said, “I’m just not happy
anymore.I’mtiredofbeingflat.Iwanttobearegularshapeagain,likeotherpeople.ButI’llhavetogoonbeingflatforever.Itmakesmesick.”
“Oh,Stanley,”Arthursaid.Hedriedhis tearsonacornerofStanley’ssheetandcould thinkofnothingmoretosay.
“Don’ttalkaboutwhatIjustsaid,”Stanleytoldhim.“Idon’twantthefolkstoworry.Thatwouldonlymakeitworse.”
“You’rebrave,”Arthursaid.“Youreallyare.”HetookholdofStanley’shand.Thetwobrotherssattogetherinthedarkness,beingfriends.They
werebothstillsad,buteachonefeltalittlebetterthanhehadbefore.Andthen,suddenly,thoughhewasnoteventryingtothink,Arthurhadanidea.Hejumpedupand
turned on the light and ran to the big storage box where toys and things were kept. He began torummageinthebox.
Stanleysatupinbedtowatch.Arthur flung aside a football and some lead soldiers and airplanemodels and lots ofwooden
blocks,andthenhesaid,“Aha!”Hehadfoundwhathewanted—anoldbicyclepump.Hehelditup,andStanleyandhelookedateachother.
“Okay,”Stanleysaidatlast.“Buttakeiteasy.”Heputtheendofthelongpumphoseinhismouthandclampedhislipstightlyaboutitsothatnoaircouldescape.
“I’llgoslowly,”Arthursaid.“Ifithurtsoranything,wiggleyourhandatme.”He began to pump.At first nothing happened except that Stanley’s cheeks bulged a bit. Arthur
watchedhishand,buttherewasnowigglesignal,sohepumpedon.Then,suddenly,Stanley’stophalfbegantoswell.
“It’sworking!It’sworking!”shoutedArthur,pumpingaway.Stanleyspreadhisarmssothattheaircouldgetaroundinsidehimmoreeasily.Hegotbiggerand
bigger. The buttons of his pajama top burst off—Pop!Pop!Pop! Amomentmore and hewas allroundedout;headandbody,armsandlegs.Butnothisrightfoot.Thatfootstayedflat.
Arthurstoppedpumping.“It’sliketryingtodotheverylastbitofthoselongballoons,”hesaid.“Maybeashakewouldhelp.”
Stanleyshookhisrightfoot twice,andwitha littlewhooshingsounditswelledout tomatchtheleftone.TherestoodStanleyLambchopasheusedtobe,asifhehadneverbeenflatatall.
“Thankyou,Arthur,”Stanleysaid.“Thankyouverymuch.”ThebrotherswereshakinghandswhenMr.LambchopstrodeintotheroomwithMrs.Lambchop
rightbehindhim.“Weheardyou!”saidMr.Lambchop.“Upandtalkingwhenyououghttobeasleep,eh?Shameon—”
“GEORGE!”saidMrs.Lambchop.“Stanley’sroundagain!”“You’reright!”saidMr.Lambchop,noticing.“Goodforyou,Stanley!”“I’mtheonewhodidit,”Arthursaid.“Iblewhimup.”Everyone was terribly excited and happy, of course. Mrs. Lambchop made hot chocolate to
celebratetheoccasion,andseveraltoastsweredrunktoArthurforhiscleverness.
Whenthelittlepartywasover,Mr.andMrs.Lambchoptuckedtheboysbackintotheirbedsandkissedthem,andthentheyturnedoutthelight.“Goodnight,”theysaid.
“Goodnight,”saidStanleyandArthur.Ithadbeenalongandtiringday.VerysoonalltheLambchopswereasleep.
TheEnd
AMorningSurprise
Mrs. Lambchopwasmaking breakfast.Mr. Lambchop, at the kitchen table, helped by reading bitsfromthemorningpaper.
“Here’sanoddone,Harriet,”hesaid.“There’sachickeninSwedenthatridesabike.”“SodoI,George,”saidMrs.Lambchop,notreallylistening.“Listentothis.‘MerkerBuildingemptied.Tobecollapsednextweek.’Imagine!Eightfloors!”“Poorthing!”Mrs.Lambchopsetoutplates.“Boys!”shecalled.“Breakfastisready!”Her glance fell upon a row of photographs on the wall above the sink. There was a smiling
Stanley,onlyhalfan inch thick,hisbigbulletinboardhavingfallenfromthebedroomwall torestupon him overnight. Next came reminders of the many family adventures that had come afterStanley’syoungerbrother,Arthur,hadcleverlyblownhimroundagainwithabicyclepump.TherewerethebrotherswithPrinceHaraz,theyounggeniewhohadgrantedwishesforthemallafterbeingaccidentallysummonedbyStanleyfromalamp.TherewastheentirefamilywithSantaClausandhisdaughter, Sarah, taken during a Christmas visit to the North Pole. There was the family again inWashington,D.C.,intheofficeofthePresidentoftheUnitedStates,whohadaskedthemtoundertakeasecretmissionintoouterspace.ThelastpictureshowedArthurstandingbesideaballoononwhichMrs.LambchophadpaintedapictureofStanley’sface.Theballoon,itsstringinfactheldbyStanley,hadbeenavaluableguidetohispresence,sincehewasinvisibleatthetime.“Boys!”shecalledagain.“Breakfast!”
Intheirbedroom,StanleyandArthurhadfinisheddressing.While Stanley filled his backpack, Arthur bounced a tennis ball. “Let’s go,” he said. “Here!
Catch!”Stanleyhadjustreachedforabookontheshelfbyhisbed.Theballstruckhisbackasheturned,
andhebangedhisshoulderonacorneroftheshelf.“Ouch!”“Sorry,”Arthursaid.“Butlet’sgo,okay?Youknowhowlong—STANLEY!”“Whyareyoushouting?”Stanleyadjustedhispack.“C’mon!I’msohungry—”Hepaused.“Oh,
boy!Arthur,doyousee?”“Ido,actually.”Arthurswallowedhard.“You’re,youknow…flat.”
ABOUTTHEAUTHOR
JeffBrowncreatedthebelovedcharacterofFlatStanleyasabedtimestoryforhistwosons.HehaswrittenotheroutrageousbooksabouttheLambchopfamily, includingFlatStanley,Stanleyand theMagic Lamp, Invisible Stanley, Stanley’s Christmas Adventure, Stanley in Space, and Stanley, FlatAgain!YoucanlearnmoreaboutJeffBrownandFlatStanleyatwww.flatstanleybooks.com.
MackyPamintuanisanaccomplishedillustrator.HelivesinSanDiego,California,withhiswifeanddog.
Visitwww.AuthorTracker.comforexclusiveinformationonyourfavoriteHarperCollinsauthor.
OTHERWORKS
DON’TMISSANYOFTHESEOUTRAGEOUSSTORIES:
FlatStanley:HisOriginalAdventure!
StanleyandtheMagicLamp
InvisibleStanley
Stanley’sChristmasAdventure
StanleyinSpace
Stanley,FlatAgain!
ANDCATCHFLATSTANLEY’SWORLDWIDEADVENTURES:
TheMountRushmoreCalamity
TheGreatEgyptianGraveRobbery
COPYRIGHT
FlatStanley:HisOriginalAdventure!Textcopyright©1964byJeffBrown
Copyrightrenewed©1992byJeffBrownIllustrationsbyMackyPamintuan,copyright©2009byHarperCollinsPublishers
AllrightsreservedunderInternationalandPan-AmericanCopyrightConventions.Bypaymentoftherequiredfees,youhavebeengrantedthenonexclusive,nontransferablerighttoaccessandreadthetextofthise-bookon-screen.Nopartofthistextmaybereproduced,transmitted,downloaded,decompiled,reverse-engineered,orstoredinorintroducedintoanyinformationstorageand
retrievalsystem,inanyformorbyanymeans,whetherelectronicormechanical,nowknownorhereinafterinvented,withouttheexpresswrittenpermissionofHarperCollinse-books.
EPubEdition©SEPTEMBER2010ISBN:978-0-062-06334-2
LibraryofCongresscatalogcardnumber:2002024014ISBN978-0-06-009791-2
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CONTENTS
Cover
TitlePage
Dedication
Prologue
1.WhereIsStanley?
2.Dr.Dan
3.TheFirstDays
4.InthePark
5.TheTVShow
6.TheBankRobbers
7.Arthur ’sStorm
TheCall
AbouttheAuthor
OtherWorks
Copyright
BackAd
AboutthePublisher
PROLOGUE
StanleyLambchopspokeintothedarknessabovehisbed.“Ican’tsleep.It’stherain,Ithink.”Therewasnoresponsefromthebedacrosstheroom.“I’mhungry,too,”Stanleysaid.“Areyouawake,Arthur?”“Iamnow,”saidhisyoungerbrother.“Youwokeme.”Stanley fetched an apple from the kitchen and ate it by the bedroom window. The rain had
worsened.“I’mstillhungry,”hesaid.
“Raisins…shelf…”murmuredArthur,halfasleepagain.Crash!camethunder.Lightningflashed.Stanleyfoundthelittleboxofraisinsonashelfbythewindow.Heateone.Crash!Flash!Stanleyatemoreraisins.Crash!Flash!Arthuryawned.“Gotobed.Youcan’tbehungrystill.”“I’mnot,actually.”Stanleygotbackintobed.“ButIfeelsortof…oh,different,Iguess.”Heslept.
WhereIsStanley?
“Breakfastisready,George.Wemustwaketheboys,”Mrs.Lambchopsaidtoherhusband.Justthen,ArthurLambchopcalledfromthebedroomhesharedwithhisbrother.“Hey!Comehere!Hey!”Mr.andMrs.Lambchopsmiled,recallinganothermorningthathadbegunlikethis.Anenormous
bulletin board, they discovered, had fallen on Stanley during the night, leaving him unhurt but nomorethanhalfaninchthick.AndsohehadremaineduntilArthurblewhimroundagain,weekslater,withabicyclepump.
“Hey!”Thecallcameagain.“Areyoucoming?Hey!”Mrs.Lambchopheldfirmviewsaboutgoodmannersandcorrectspeech.“Hayisforhorses,not
people,Arthur,”shesaidastheyenteredthebedroom.“Aswellyouknow.”“Excuseme,”saidArthur.“Thethingis,IcanhearStanley,butIcan’tfindhim!”Mr. and Mrs. Lambchop looked about the room. A shape was visible beneath the covers of
Stanley’sbed,andthepillowwassquasheddown,asifaheadresteduponit.Buttherewasnohead.
“Whyareyoustaring?”ThevoicewasStanley’s.Smiling,Mr.Lambchop lookedunder thebedbut sawonlyapairof slippersandanold tennis
ball.“Nothere,”hesaid.Arthurputoutahand,exploring.“Ouch!”saidStanley’svoice.“Youpokedmynose!”Arthurgasped.Mrs.Lambchopsteppedforward.“IfImay…?”Gently,usingbothhands,shefeltabout.Agigglerosefromthebed.“Thattickles!”“Oh,my!”saidMrs.Lambchop.She lookedatMr.Lambchopandheather, as theyhadduring
pastgreatsurprises.Stanley’sflatnesshadbeenthefirstofthese.Anotherhadcometheeveningtheydiscovered a young genie, Prince Haraz, in the bedroom with Stanley and Arthur, who hadaccidentallysummonedhimfromalamp.
Mrs.Lambchopdrewadeepbreath.“Wemustfacefacts,George.Stanleyisnowinvisible.”“You’reright!”saidastartledvoicefromthebed.“Ican’tseemyfeet!Ormypajamas!”“DarnedestthingI’veeverseen,”saidMr.Lambchop.“Ornotseen,Ishouldsay.Trysomeother
pajamas,Stanley.”Stanley got out of bed and put on different pajamas, but these too vanished, reappearing only
whenhetookthemoff.Itwasthesamewiththeshirtandtrousershetriedonnext.“Gracious!”Mrs.Lambchop
“Iknow!”saidArthur.Untyingasmallredballoon,apartyfavor,thatfloatedabovehisbed,hegaveStanleythestringtohold.“Trythis,”hesaid.
Thestringvanished,butnottheballoon.“There!”saidMrs.Lambchop.“Atleastwecantell,approximately,whereStanleyis.Nowlet’sall
havebreakfast.Then,George,wemustseewhatDr.Danmakesofthis.”
Dr.Dan
“What’s that red balloon doing here?” askedDr.Dan. “Well, nevermind.Goodmorning,Mr. andMrs.Lambchop.SomethingaboutStanley,mynursesays.He’snotbeentakenflatagain?”
“No,no,”saidMrs.Lambchop.“Stanleyhasremainedround.”“Theymostlydo,”saidDr.Dan.“Well,let’shavethelittlefellowin.”“Iamin,”saidStanley,standingdirectlybeforehim.“Holdingtheballoon.”“Ha,ha,Mr.Lambchop!”saidDr.Dan.“Youareanexcellentventriloquist!ButIseethroughyour
littlejoke!”“Whatyouseethrough,”saidMr.Lambchop,“isStanley.”
“Begpardon?”saidDr.Dan.&“Stanleybecameinvisibleduringthenight,”Mrs.Lambchopexplained.“Wearequiteunsettledby
it.”“Headache?”Dr.DanaskedStanley’sballoon.“Throatsore?Stomachupset?”“Ifeelfine,”Stanleysaid.
“Isee.Hmmmm…”Dr.Danshookhishead.“Frankly,despitemylongyearsofpractice,I’venotrunintothisbefore.Butoneofmyexcellentmedicalbooks.DifficultandPeculiarCasesbyDr.FranzGemeister,mayhelp.”
Hetookalargebookfromtheshelfbehindhimandlookedintoit.“Ah!‘Disappearances,’page134.”Hefoundthepage.“Hmmmm…Notmuchhere,I’mafraid.
France,1851:aMadamePoulencvanishedwhileeatingbananasintherain.Spain,1923:theGonzalestwins,ageeleven,became invisibleaftereating fruit salad.Lightninghadbeenobserved.Themostrecentcase,in1968,isOombok,anEskimochief,lastseeneatingcannedpeachesduringablizzard.”
Dr.Danreturnedthebooktotheshelf.“That’sit,”hesaid.“Gemeistersuspectsaconnectionbetweenbadweatherandfruit.”“Itstormedlastnight,”saidStanley.“AndIateanapple.Raisins,too.”“Thereyou are,” saidDr.Dan. “Butwemust lookon thebright side,Mr. andMrs.Lambchop.
Stanleyseemsperfectlyhealthy,exceptforthevisibilityfactor.We’lljustkeepaneyeonhim.”“Easiersaidthandone,”saidMr.Lambchop.“Whydohisclothesalsodisappear?”“Notmyfield,I’mafraid,”saidDr.Dan.“Isuggestatextilespecialist.”“We’vekeptyou longenough,Doctor,”Mrs.Lambchopsaid.“Come,George,Stanley—Where
areyou,Stanley?Ah!Justholdtheballoonabithigher,dear.Good-bye,Dr.Dan.”BydinnertimeMr.andMrs.LambchopandArthurhadbecomequitesad.Theredballoon,though
usefulinlocatingStanley,keptremindingthemofhowmuchtheymissedhisdearfaceandsmile.
But after dinnerMrs. Lambchop,whowas artistically talented, replaced the red balloonwith aprettywhiteoneandgotoutherwatercolorpaints.Usingfourcolorsandseveraldelicatebrushes,shepaintedanexcellentlikenessofStanley,smiling,onthewhiteballoon.
Everyonebecameatoncemorecheerful.Stanleysaidhefeltalmosthisoldselfagain,especiallywhenhelookedinthemirror.
TheFirstDays
The next morningMrs. Lambchop wrote a note to Stanley’s teacher, tied a stronger string to hisballoon,andsenthimofftoschool.
“DearMissBenchley,” thenote said.“Stanleyhasunexpectedlybecome invisible.Youwill findtheballoonausefulguidetohispresence.Sincerely,HarrietLambchop.”
MissBenchleyspoketotheclass.“WemustnotstareatwherewesupposeStanleytobe,”shesaid.“Orgossipabouthisstate.”
Nevertheless, word soon reached a newspaper. A reporter visited the school and his storyappearedthenextday.
Theheadline read:SMILING STUDENT: “ONCEYOU SAWHIM, NOWYOUDON’T!”Beneath itwere two
photographs,aBeforeandanAfter.
TheBefore, takenbyMissBenchley aweek earlier, showeda smilingStanley at his desk.TheAfter,takenbythereporter,showedonlyStanley’sdeskandhissmiley-faceballoonbobbingaboveit.ThestoryincludedastatementbyMissBenchleythatStanleywasinfactatthedeskand,tothebestofherknowledge,smiling.
Mr.andMrs.Lambchopboughtseveralcopiesofthepaperforout-of-townfriends.Hercolorfulballoon artwork lost something in black andwhite,Mrs. Lambchop said, but on the whole it hadphotographedwell.
Arthursaidthat“InvisibleBoy’sBrother”wouldhavebeenaninterestingpicture,andthatStanleyshouldsuggestitifthereportercamearoundagain.
Beinginvisibleofferedtemptations,Mr.andMrs.Lambchopwarned,butStanleymustresistthem.Itwouldbewrongtospyonpeople,forexample,orsneakuponthemtohearwhattheyweresaying.
ButthenextSaturdayafternoon,whentheLambchopswenttothemovies,itwasArthurwhocouldnotresist.
“Don’tbuyaseatforStanley,”hewhisperedattheticketwindow.“Justhidehisballoon.Who’dknow?”
“Thatwouldbedeceitful,dear,”saidMrs.Lambchop.“Fourseats,please,”shetoldtheticketlady.“Wewantoneforourcoats,yousee.”
“Wasn’tthatdeceitful,sortof?”Arthuraskedastheywentin.“Notinthesameway,”saidMr.Lambchop,tuckingStanley’sballoonbeneathhisseat.Just as the film began, a very tall man sat directly in front of Stanley, blocking his view.Mr.
LambchoptookStanleyonhislap,fromwhichthescreenwaseasilyseen,andthepeoplefartherbacksawrightthroughhimwithoutknowingit.Stanleygreatlyenjoyedtheshow.
“See?”saidArthurastheywentout.“Stanleydidn’tevenneedaseat.”“Youhaveapoint,”saidMr.Lambchop,whoselegshadgonetosleep.
InthePark
ItwasSundayafternoon.Arthurhadgone tovisita friend,soMr.andMrs.LambchopsetoutwithStanleyforanearbypark.Thestreetswerecrowded,andStanleycarriedhisballoontolessentheriskofbeingjostledbypeoplehurryingby.
NeartheparktheymetRalphJones,anoldcollegefriendofMr.Lambchop’s.
“Alwaysatreatrunningintoyourfamily,George!”saidMr.Jones.“Theolderboywasflatonce,Irecall.Youhadhimrolledup.Andonceyouhadaforeignladwithyou.Aprince,yes?”
“Whatamemoryyouhave!”saidMr.Lambchop, recalling theyounggeniewhohadbeenwiththematthetime.
“Howareyou,Ralph?”saidMrs.Lambchop.“Stanley?SayhellotoMr.Jones.”
“Takecare!”saidMr.Jones.“Thatballoonisfloating—hmmmm…JustwhereisStanley?”“Holdingtheballoon,”Stanleysaid.“Igotinvisiblesomehow.”“Is that so?First flat, now invisible.”Ralph Jones shook his head. “Kids!Always one thing or
another, eh,George?Myoldestneedsdentalwork.Well, Imust run!Rememberme to thatprince.PrinceFawziMustafaAslanMirzaMelekNamerdHaraz,asIrecall.”
“Atrulyremarkablememory,”saidMrs.LambchopasMr.Joneswalkedaway.
Byafieldinthepark,theLambchopsfoundabenchonwhichtorest.On the field, childrenwere racingbicycles, roundand round.Suddenly, shouts rose. “Giveup,
Billy!…Billy’snogood!…Billy,Billy,sillyBilly,hecan’trideabike!”“ThatmustbeBilly,”saidMrs.Lambchop.“Thelittlefellowsofarbehindtherest.Oh,dear!How
heteeters!”Stanleyrememberedhownervoushehadbeenwhenhewaslearningtorideandhowhisfather
hadsteadiedhim.PoorBilly!Ifonly…I’lldoit!hethought,andtiedhisballoontothebench.WhenBillycameroundagain,Stanleydartedontothefield.Takingholdoftheteeteringbicycle
frombehind,hebegantorun.“Uh-oh!”saidlittleBilly,surprisedtobegainingspeed.
Stanley ran harder, keeping the bicycle steady. The pedals rose and fell, faster and faster, thenfasterstill.
“Yikes!”criedBilly.Stanleyranasfastashecould.Soontheypassedtheboyridingjustahead,thenanotherboyand
another!NotuntiltheyhadpassedalltheotherridersdidStanley,nowoutofbreath,letgo.“Wheeee!”Billyshouted,andwentroundoncemorebyhimself.“Youwin,Billy!”shoutedtheotherboys.“Howdidyougetsogood?…Andsosuddenly!…You
surehadusfooled!”StanleygothisbreathbackandreturnedtoMr.andMrs.Lambchoponthebench.“Toobadyoumissed it,Stanley,” saidMr.Lambchop,pretendinghehadnotguessed the truth.
“Thatteeterylittleboy—herodeverywellsuddenly.”“Oh?”saidStanley,pretendingalso.“Iwasn’tpayingattention,Iguess.”Mr.Lambchopgavehimalittlepokeintheribs.
Halfanhourpassed,andMrs.Lambchopworried that theymightbe sitting too long in the sun. InStanley’spresentstate,shesaid,over-tanningwouldbedifficulttodetect.
Justthen,ayoungmanandaprettygirlstrolledpast,handinhand,andhaltedinagroveoftrees
closeby.“That isPhillip, the sonofmydear friendMrs.Hodgson,”Mrs.Lambchop said. “And thegirl
must be his sweetheart, Lucia. Such a sad story! They are in love and Phillipwants verymuch toproposemarriage.Butheistooshy.Hetriesandtries,Mrs.Hodgsonsays,buteachtimehiscouragefails.AndLuciaistootimidtocoaxtheproposalfromhim.”
Mr.Lambchopwasnottheleastbitshy.“I’llgointroducemyself,”hesaid.“Andpopthequestionforhim.”
“No,George.”Mrs.Lambchopshookherhead.“Luciamusthear thewordsfromPhillip’sownlips.”
AnideacametoStanley.“Berightback!”hesaid,andrantothegroveinwhichtheyoungcouplestood.Oncebesidethem,
hestoodverystill.“…nice day, Lucia, don’t you think?” Phillipwas saying. “Though they say itmay rain.Who
knows?”“You are quite right, I’m sure, Phillip,” the girl replied. “I do value your opinions about the
weather.”“Youarekind,verykind.”Philliptrembledabit.“Lucia,Iwanttoask…Imean…Wouldyou…
Consent,thatis…”Hegulped.“Whataprettydressyouhaveon!”“Thankyou,”saidLucia.“Ilikeyournecktie.Youweresaying,Phillip?”“Ah!”saidPhillip.“Right!Yes!Forsometimenow,dearLucia…Mydearestwish…Oh,my!I
want…”Hebithislip.“Look!Adarkcloud,thereinthewest!Itmayrainafterall.”“Ihopenot.”Luciaseemedclosetotears.“Imean,ifitrained…Well,wemightgetwet.”Thisisveryboring,Stanleythought.The conversation grew evenmore boring. Again and again Phillip failed to declare his love,
chatteringinsteadabouttheweather,orthelookofatree,orchildrenplayinginthepark.“Iwanttoask,dearLucia,”Phillipbeganagainforperhapsthetwentiethtime,“ifyouwill…That
is…Ifyou…If…”“Yes?”saidLucia,alsoperhapsforthetwentiethtime.“What,Phillip?Whatdoyouwishtosay?”Stanleyleanedforward.“Lucia…?”saidPhillip.“Hmmm…Ah!I…”“Marryme!”saidStanley,makinghisvoiceasmuchlikePhillip’sashecould.Lucia’seyesopenedwide.“Iwill,Phillip!”shecried.“OfcourseIwillmarryyou!”Philliplookedasifhemightfaint.“What?DidI—?Youwill?”
Luciahuggedhim,andtheykissed.“I’veproposedatlast!”criedPhillip.“IcanhardlybelieveIspokethewords!”Youdidn’t,Stanleythought.Mr. andMrs.Lambchophad seen the lovers embrace. “Well done, Stanley!” they saidwhenhe
returnedtotheirbench,andseveralmoretimesonthewayhome.Mrs. Hodgson called that evening to report that Phillip and Lucia would soon be wed. How
wonderful! Mrs. Lambchop said. She had glimpsed them in the park just that afternoon. Such ahandsomepair!Somuchinlove!
Stanleyteasedher.“Yousaidnevertosneakuponpeopleorspyonthem.ButIdidtoday.Areyoumadatme?”
“Oh,veryangry,”saidMrs.Lambchop,andkissedthetopofhishead.
TheTVShow
Arthurwas feeling leftout.“Stanleyalwaysgets tohave interestingadventures,”hesaid.“And thatnewspaperstorywasjustabouthim.Nobodyseemsinterestedinme.”
“Thebestwaytodrawattention,dear,”saidMrs.Lambchop,“isbyone’scharacter.Bekindly.Andfair.Cheerfulnessismuchadmired,asiswit.”
“Ican’tmanageallthat,”saidArthur.Mrs.LambchopspokeprivatelytoStanley.“Yourbrotherisabitjealous,”shesaid.“WhenIwasflat,Arthurwasjealousbecausepeoplestaredatme,”Stanleysaid.“Nowtheycan’t
seemeatall,andhe’sjealousagain.”
Mrs.Lambchopsighed.“Ifyoucanfindawaytocheerhim,do.”
TheverynextdayanimportantTVpersontelephonedMr.Lambchop.“TeddyTalkerhere,Lambchop,”hesaid.“HostoftheenormouslypopularTVshow,Talkingwith
TeddyTalker.WillStanleyappearonit?”“ItwouldpleaseustohaveStanleyappearanywhereatall,”Mr.Lambchopsaid.“Peoplecan’tsee
him,youknow.”
“I’lljustsayhe’sthere,”saidTeddyTalker.“Speaktotheboy.Letmeknow.”StanleysaidthathedidnotparticularlycaretogoonTV.Butthenherememberedaboutcheering
upArthur.“Allright,”hesaid.“ButArthur,too.Helikestotelljokesanddomagictricks.Saywe’llbothbe
ontheshow.”Arthur was very pleased, and that evening the brothers plannedwhat theywould do. The next
morningMr.LambchoptoldTeddyTalker.“Excellentplan!”saidtheTVman.“ThisFriday,yes?Thankyou,Lambchop!”
“Welcome, everybody!” said Teddy Talker that Friday evening from the stage of his TV show.“Wonderfulgueststonight!Includinganinvisibleboy!”
In the front row, applaudingwith the rest of the audience,Mr. andMrs. Lambchop thought ofStanleyandArthur,nowwaitinginadressingroombackstage.Howexcitedtheymustbe!
TheotherguestswerealreadyseatedonthesofabyTeddyTalker ’sdesk.Hechattedfirstwithaladywhohadwrittenabookabout sausage,nextwitha tennischampionwhohadbecomea rabbi,then with a very pretty young woman who had won a beauty contest, but planned now to devoteherselftothecauseofworldpeace.
AtlastcametheannouncementthatbegantheLambchopplan.“Invisible Stanley has been delayed but will be here shortly,” Teddy Talker told the audience.
“Meanwhile,wearefortunateinhavingwithushisverytalentedbrother!”Protestsrose.“Brother?…Avisiblebrother?…Drat!…Goodthingwegotinfree!”“Ladiesandgentlemen!”saidTeddyTalker.“MirthandmagicwithArthurLambchop!”
Arthur stepped out onto the stage wearing a smart blackmagician’s capeMrs. Lambchop hadmadeforhimandcarryingasmallbox,whichheplacedonTeddyTalker ’sdesk.
“Hello,everybody!”hesaid.“Theboxisforlater.Nowlet’shavefun!Heardthestoryaboutthethreeholesintheground?”Hewaited,smiling.“Well,well,well!”
Twopeoplelaughed,butthatwasall.“Idon’tunderstand,”saidaladysittingbehindMr.andMrs.Lambchop.Mr.Lambchopturnedaroundinhisseat.“A‘well’isaholeintheground,”hesaid.“‘Well,well,
well.’Threeholes.”“Ah!Isee!”saidthelady.“Ariddle,ladiesandgentlemen!”criedArthur.“Wheredokingskeeptheirarmies?”“Where?”someonecalled.“Intheirsleevies!”saidArthur.Manypeoplelaughednow,includingtheladywhohadmissedthefirstjoke.“Igotthatone,”she
said.“Amind-readingtrick!”Arthurannounced.HeshuffledadeckofcardsandletTeddyTalkerdraw
one.“Don’tletmeseeit!”hesaid.“Butlookatit!Pictureitinyourmind!Iwillconcentrate,usingmy
magicpowers!”Arthurclosedhiseyes.“Hmmm…hmmm…Yourcard,sir,isthefourofhearts!”“Itis!”criedTeddyTalker.“Itisthefourofhearts!”Voicesroseagain.“Incredible!…Hecanreadminds?…Soyoung, too!…Dothatoneagain,
lad!”“Certainly!”saidArthur.Buthehadusedafalsedeckinwhicheverycardwasthefourofhearts,andtheaudiencewould
surelyguess if thatcardwasnamedagain.Fortunately, thebrothershad thoughtof this.Backstage,Stanleytiedhisballoontoachair.
Arthurnowshuffledarealdeckofcards,thencalledforavolunteer.Whenanelderlygentlemancameupontothestage,Stanleytiptoedouttostandbehindhim.Theaudienceapplaudedthevolunteer.Howpeculiarthisis!Stanleythought.Hundredsofpeoplelooking,butnotonecanseeme!
“Drawacard,sir!”saidArthur.“Thankyou!Keepithidden!Butpictureitinyourmind!”Again
closinghiseyes,hepretendedtobethinkinghard.AquickpeekshowedStanleythatthevolunteerheldthetenofclubs.Hetiptoedovertowhisperin
hisbrother ’sear.Arthuropenedhiseyes.“Ihaveit.Thecardis…thetenofclubs!”“Yes!Bravo!”criedtheoldgentleman.Theaudienceclappedhardashereturnedtohisseat.Mr.Lambchopsmiledattheladybehindhim.“Ourson,”hesaid.“Soclever!”saidthelady.“Whatwillhedonext?”Mrs.Lambchopdrewadeepbreath.ThatmorningStanleyandArthurhadborrowedapet frog
fromtheboynextdoor.Whatcamenext,sheknew,wouldbethemostdaringpartof theevening’splan!
“Ladiesandgentlemen!”saidArthur.“Anewkindofmagic!ArthurLambchop—that’sme!—andHenry,theAir-DancingFrog!”
HeliftedHenryfromtheboxonTeddyTalker ’sdeskandheldhimup.Henry,whoappearedtobesmiling,worealittlewhiteshirtwithanHonit,alsomadebyMrs.Lambchop.
“Fly,Henry!”criedArthur.“Flyoutandstandstillintheair!”Stepping forward,Stanley tookHenry fromArthur ’shandsand ran to the far sideof thestage.
Therehestopped,holdingthefroghighabovehishead.Henrywriggledhislegs.“Amazing!”shoutedtheaudience.“Who’dbelieveit?…That’ssomefrog!…Whatkeepshimup
there?”“Circle,Henry!”Arthurcommanded.“Circleintheair!”Stanleywalkedrapidlyincircles,swayingHenryashewent.
The audiencewas tremendously impressed. “What a finemagician!…Mind readingand frogflying!…Youdon’tseethateveryday!”
PretendingtocontrolHenry’sflight,ArthurkeptafingerpointedasStanleyswoopedthefrogallaboutthestage.“Whoops!”criedTeddyTalkerasHenryflewabovehisdesk.Onthelongsofa,thesausagewriter and the tennis rabbiand thebeauty-contestwinnerduckeddown.EvenMr. andMrs.Lambchop,whoknewthesecretofHenry’sflight,thoughtitanamazingsight.
Atlast,togreatapplause,ArthurtookHenryintohisownhandsandreturnedhimtothelittlebox.
Stanley tiptoed off to get his smiley-face balloon. The plan now called for Teddy Talker toannouncethearrivaloftheinvisibleboyandintroducehim.
ButArthurhadsteppedforwardagain.“Thankyouforcheeringme,”hetoldtheaudience.“ButIhavetosaysomething.Thatfirstmind-
readingtrick,Ireallydiddothatone.Butthesecondtrick…Actually,Ican’treadmindsatall.Andtheflyingfrog,he—”
Voicesrose.“Can’treadminds?”…“We’vebeenliedto?”…“Thefrogwaslying?”…“Notthefrog,stupid!”…“Wait,he’snotdone!”
“Please!Listen!”saidArthur.“Itwouldn’tbefairtoletyouthinkIdideverythingbymyself.Ihadahelper!Forthesecondtrick,hesawthecardandtoldmewhatitwas.AndHenry…Well,myhelperwaswhooshinghimintheair!”
Bynowtheaudiencewasterriblyconfused.“Who?”…“Whathelper?”…“Itwasjustaregularfrog?”…“Butsomefrogsfly!”…“No,squirrels,notfrogs!”…“Whooshing?”
Arthurwenton.“Mybrother,Stanley,helpedme!Hefixedit formetobeon thisshow!He’sareallynicebrother,andIthankhimalot!”
TeddyTalkerhadsprungtohisfeet.“Ladiesandgentlemen!MayInowpresentaveryspecialguest,whohasbeenhereallalong!The
invisibleboy!StanleyLambchop!”Stanleycameonto the stage, carryinghis smiley-faceballoon.Arthurputouthishand, and the
audiencecouldtellthatStanleyhadtakenit.Therewastremendousapplause.
Thebrothersbowedagainandagain,Stanley’sballoonbobbingupanddown.Arthur ’ssmilewasplaintosee,andMr.andMrs.Lambchop,astheyapplauded,thoughtthateventheballoon’spaintedsmileseemedbrighterthanbefore.
“I have two children myself,” said the lady behind them. “Both entirely visible and withouttheatricalflair.Weareaveryusualfamily.”
“Asarewe,”saidMr.Lambchop,smiling.“Mostly,thatis.”Arthurleftthestage,andStanleysatonthesofabetweenthesausagewriterandthebeauty-contest
winnerandansweredTeddyTalker ’squestions.Hehadnoideahowhebecameinvisible,hesaid,andit wasn’t actually a great treat being that way, since he often got bumped into and had to keepremindingpeoplehewasthere.Afterthat,TeddyTalkerthankedeveryoneforcoming,andtheshowwasover.
Backhome,Arthurfelttheeveninghadgonewell.“Igotlotsofapplause,”hesaid.“ButmaybeitwasmostlybecauseofwhatStanleydid.Ishouldn’t
betooproud,Iguess.”“Poiseandgoodhumorcontributegreatlytoaperformer ’ssuccess,”saidMrs.Lambchop.“You
didwellonboththosecounts.ReturnHenryinthemorning,dear.Timenowforbed.”
TheBankRobbers
Mr.LambchopandStanleyandArthurwerewatchingtheeveningnewsonTV.“… more dreadful scandal and violence tomorrow,” said the newscaster, ending a report on
national affairs. “Here in our fair city another bank was robbed today, the third this month. Theunusualrobbers—”
“Enoughofcrime!”Bustlingin,Mrs.LambchopswitchedofftheTV.“Cometodinner!”Stanley supposed hewould never knowhow the robberswere unusual.But the next afternoon,
whilestrollingwithhisfather,hefoundout.Onthewayhometheypassedabank.“Imustcashacheck,butitisverycrowdedinthere,”saidMr.Lambchop.“Waithere,Stanley.”Stanleywaited.
Suddenly,criesrosefromwithinthebank.“Ladybankrobbers!JustliketheysaidonTV!”…“IlaughedwhenIheardit!”…“Me,too!”
Twowomenindressesandfancyhats,onestoutandtheotherverytall,ranoutofthebank,eachwithamoneybaginonehandandapistolintheother.
“Stay in there!” the stoutwomancalledback into thebank,hervoicehighandscratchy.“Don’tanyonerunout!Orelse…Bang!Bang!”
“Right!”shoutedthetallwoman,alsoinanodd,highvoice.“Justbecausewearefemalesdoesn’tmeanwecan’tshoot!”
Beinginvisiblewon’tprotectmeifbulletsgoflyingabout!Stanleythought.Helookedforaplacetohide.
AnemptyYum-Yumicecreamvanwasparkedclosebyandhe jumpedinto it.Hisballoonstillfloatedoutsidethevan,itsstringcaughtinthedoor,buthedidnotdaretorescueit.ScrunchingdownbehindcardboardbarrelsmarkedCHOCOLATEYUM,STRAWBERRYYUM,andYUMCRUNCH,hepeekedout.
Analarmwas ringing inside thebank,and shouts roseagain. “Ha!Nowyou’re in trouble!”…“Thepolicewillcome!”…“Putthatmoneybackwhereyoufoundit,ladies!”
ThenStanleysawthatthetworobberwomenwererunningtowardhim,carryingthemoneybags.Theywerestopping!TheyweregettingintotheYum-Yumvan!
Scrunchingdownagain,heheldhisbreath.Therobberswereinthevannow,closetowherehehid.“Hurryup!”saidthestoutwomanina
surprisinglydeepvoice.“Theseshoesarekillingme!”The tallwoman opened theYUM CRUNCH barrel, and Stanley saw that it was empty. Then both
robberspouredpacketsofmoneyfromtheirbagsintothebarrelandputthelidbackon.Stanleycouldhardlybelievewhathesawnext!The robbers threw aside their fancy hats and tugged offwigs.And now theywere undressing,
pullingtheirdressesovertheirheads!Theyweremen,Stanley realized,notwomen!Yes!Underneath thedresses theyworewhite ice-
cream-manpants,withthelegsrolledup,andwhiteYum-Yumshirts!
“Whew!Whatarelief,Howard!”Thestoutrobberkickedoffhiswomen’sshoesandputonwhitesneakers.
“They’llnevercatchusnow,Ralph!”saidthetallone.Therobbersunrolledtheirtrouserlegsandthrewtheirfemaleclothingintoanotheremptybarrel,
theonemarkedCHOCOLATEYUM.Thentheyjumpedintothefrontseats,thetallmandriving,andthevanspedoff.
Behindthebarrels,Stanleyheldhisbreathagain.Thispairwastooclevertobecaught!Theyweresure to get away! No one would suspect two Yum-Yummen of being the lady—But the van wasslowing!Itwasstopping!
Stanleypeekedoutagain.Apolicecarblockedtheroadandtwopolicemenstoodbesideit,inspectingcarsastheypassedby.
InamomenttheywereattheYum-Yumvan.“Abankgotrobbed,”thefirstpolicemantoldthedriver.“Bytwowomen.Youice-creamfellows
seenanysuspicious-lookingfemales?”“My!”Thetallmanshookhishead.“Moreandmorethesedays,womenfillingrolesonceplayed
bymen.Bless’em,Isay!”Besidehim,thestoutmansaidhastily,“Butbankrobbing,Howard,that’swrong”Thesecondpolicemanlookedintothebackofthevan.“Justicecreamhere,”hetoldhispartner.Thetrickeryisworking!Stanleythought.HowcanI…?Anideacametohim.Reachingout,he
flippedthelidofftheCHOCOLATEYUMbarrel.“Loose lid,” said the second policeman. “Better tighten—Hey! This barrel is full of female
clothes!”
“Oh!”Thetallrobbermadeasadface.“Fortheneedy,”hesaid.“Theyweremylatemother ’s.”StanleyflippedthelidofftheYUMCRUNCHbarrelandthepacketsofmoneywereplaintosee!“Yourmotherwasamightyrichwoman!”shoutedthefirstpoliceman,drawinghispistol.“Hands
up,youtwo!”Astherobberswerebeinghandcuffed,anotherpolicecardroveup.Mr.Lambchopjumpedoutof
it.
“Thatballoon,onthatvan!”heshouted.“We’vebeenfollowingit!Stanley…?Areyouinthere?”“Yes!”Stanleycalledback.“I’mfine.Thebankrobbersarecaught!Theyweren’tladiesatall,just
dressedthatway!”Thehandcuffed robbersweredreadfullyconfused.“Who’syelling inourvan?…Whostucka
ballooninthedoor?…Havewegonecrazy?”theyasked.“It’smysonStanley,”saidMr.Lambchop.“Heisinvisible,unfortunately.Thankgoodnesshewas
nothurt!”“ThatmustbethesameinvisibleboytheyhadonTV!”saidthefirstpoliceman.“Aninvisibleboy?”Thetallrobbergroaned.“Afterallmycarefulplanning!”Thestoutrobbershrugged.“Youcan’tthinkofeverything,Howard.Don’tblameyourself.”Therobbersweredrivenofftojail,andStanleywenthomewithMr.Lambchopinacab.Stanleyhadbeen far toobrave,Mrs.Lambchopsaidwhensheheardwhathehaddone.Really!
Flippingthoseicecreamlids!Arthursaidhe’dhaveflippedthemtoo,ifhe’dthoughtofit.
Arthur’sStorm
Mr.andMrs.Lambchophadsaidgoodnight.Foramomentthebrotherslaysilentintheirbeds.ThenArthuryawned.“Goodnight,Stanley.Pleasantdreams.”“Pleasantdreams?Hah!”“Hah?”“Those robbers today, theyhadguns!” saidStanley.“Theycouldhaveshotmebyaccidentand
nobodywouldevenknow.”
“Ineverthoughtofthat.”Arthursatup.“Areyoumadatme?”“Iguessnot.But…”Stanleysighed.“The thing is, Idon’twant togoonbeing invisible. Iwas
reallyscared today,andIhatecarrying thatballoon,butwhenIdon’t,peoplebumpintome.AndI
can’tseemyselfinthemirror,soIdon’tevenrememberhowIlook!It’slikewhenIwasflat.Itwasallrightforawhile,butthenpeoplelaughedatme.”
“That’swhyIblewyouroundagain,”Arthursaidproudly.“EveryonesaidhowsmartIwas.”“Ifyou’resosmart,getmeoutofthisfix!”TherewasalittletrembleinStanley’svoice.Arthurwenttositontheedgeofhisbrother ’sbed.Feelingforafootbeneaththecovers,hepatted
it.“I’mreallysorryforyou,”hesaid.“Iwish—”Therewas a knock at the door, andMr. andMrs.Lambchop came in. “Talking, you two?You
oughttobeasleep,”theysaid.ArthurexplainedaboutStanley’sunhappiness.“There’smore,”Stanleysaid.“Twicemyfriendshadpartiesanddidn’tinviteme.Theysometimes
forgetmeevenifIdokeepwavingthatballoon!”“Poordear!”Mrs.Lambchopsaid.“‘Outofsight,outofmind,’asthesayinggoes.”Shewentto
putherarmsaroundStanley,buthehadjustsatupinbedandshemissedhim.Shefoundhimandgavehimahug.
“Thisisawful!”Arthursaid.“Wehavetodosomething!”Mr.Lambchopshookhishead.“Dr.DanknewofnocureforStanley’scondition.Andlittleabout
itscauseexceptforapossibleconnectionbetweenbadweatherandfruit.”“ThenI’llalwaysbelikethis.”Stanley’svoicetrembledagain.“I’llgetolderandbigger,butno
onewilleversee.”Arthurwasthinking.“Stanleydideatfruit.Andtherewasastorm.Maybe…Wait!”Heexplainedhisidea.Mr.andMrs.Lambchop lookedateachother, thenatwhere theysupposedStanley tobe,andat
eachotheragain.“I’mnotafraid,”saidStanley.“Let’stry!”Mr.Lambchopnodded.“Iseenoharminit.”“NorI,”saidMrs.Lambchop.“Verywell,Arthur!Letusgatherwhatyourplanrequires!”
“Everyoneready?”saidArthur.“IthastobejustthewayitwasthenightStanleygotinvisible.”“I’mwearingthesameblue-and-whitestripeypajamas,”saidStanley.“AndIhaveanapple.Anda
boxofraisins.”“Wecan’tmakearealstorm,”Arthursaid.“Butmaybethiswillwork.”Hestepped into thebathroomandran thewater in thesinkandshower.“There’s rain,”hesaid,
returning.“I’llbewind.”Mrs.Lambchopheldupawoodenspoonanda largeskillet fromthekitchen.“Thunder ready,”
shesaid.Mr.Lambchopshowedthepowerfulflashlighthehadfetchedfromhistoolkit.“Lightningready.”Stanleyraisedhisapple.“Now?”“Gostandbythewindow,”saidArthur.“Nowletmethink.Hmmm…Itwasdark.”Heputoutthe
light.“Goon,eat.Whooosh!”headded,beingwind.Stanleybegantoeattheapple.Waterpattereddowninthebathroomintothesink,andfromtheshowerintothetub.
“Whooosh… whooosh!” said Arthur, and Mrs. Lambchop struck her skillet with the woodenspoon.Thecrash!wasmuchlikethunder.
“Lightning,please,”Arthursaid.Mr.LambchopaimedhisflashlightandflickeditonandoffwhileStanleyfinishedtheapple.
“Nowtheraisins,”saidArthur.“Oneatatime.Whooosh!”Stanleyopenedthelittleboxandatearaisin.Stillwhoooshing,Arthurconductedasifanorchestrasatbeforehim.HislefthandsignaledMrs.
Lambchoptostriketheskillet,therightoneMr.Lambchoptoflashthelight.NodstoldStanleywhentoeataraisin.
Patter…splashwentthewaterinthebathroom.“Whooosh!”wentArthur.Crash!wenttheskillet.Flash!…Flash!wentthelight.
“Ifanyoneshouldseeusnow,”Mrs.Lambchopsaidsoftly,“Iwouldbehardputtoexplain.”Stanleylookeddownathimself.“It’snouse,”hesaid.“I’mstillinvisible.”“Twistaround!”saidArthur.“Maybethenoiseandlighthavetohityoujustacertainway!”Twisting, Stanley ate three more raisins. The light flickered over him. He heard the water
splashing,Arthurwhoooshing,thepoundingoftheskilletwiththespoon.Howhardtheyweretrying,hethought.Howmuchhelovedthemall!
Buthewasstillinvisible.“There’sonlyoneraisinleft,”hesaid.“It’snouse.”“PoorStanley!”criedMrs.Lambchop.Arthurcouldnotbearthethoughtofneverseeinghisbrotheragain.“Dothelastraisin,Stanley,”
hesaid.“Doit!”Stanleyatetheraisinanddidonemoretwist.Mrs.LambchoptappedherskilletandMr.Lambchop
flashedhislight.ArthurgavealastWhooosh!
Nothinghappened.“AtleastI’mnothungry,”Stanleysaidbravely.“But—”Heputahandtohischeek.“Ifeel…sort
oftingly.”“Stanley!”saidMr.Lambchop.“Areyoutouchingyourcheek?Iseeyourhand,Ithink!”“Andyourpajamas!”shoutedArthur,switchingonthelight.AsortofoutlineofStanleyLambchop,withhazystripesrunningupanddownit,hadappearedby
thewindow.Throughthestripestheycouldseethehousenextdoor.Suddenlytheoutlinefilledin.TherestoodStanleyinhisstripedpajamas,justastheyremembered
him!“Icanseemyfeet!”Stanleyshouted.“It’sme!”“I,dear,notme,”saidMrs.Lambchopbeforeshecouldcatchherself,thenrantoholdhimtight.Mr.LambchopshookhandswithArthur,andthentheyallwentintothebathroomtowatchStanley
lookathimselfinthemirror.Ithadn’tmatteredwhenhewasinvisible,Mrs.Lambchopsaid,buthewasgreatlyinneedofahaircutnow.
LShemadehotchocolatetocelebratetheoccasion,andArthur ’sclevernesswasacknowledgedbyall.
“Butfalsestormscannotbereliedupon,”Mr.Lambchopsaid.“Wemustthinktwicebeforeeatingfruitduringbadweather.Especiallybyawindow.”
Thenthebrothersweretuckedintobedagain.“Goodnight,”saidMr.andMrs.Lambchop,putting
outthelight.“Goodnight,”saidStanleyandArthur.Stanleygotupandwent tohaveanother look in thebathroommirror.“Thankyou,Arthur,”he
said,comingback.“Yousavedmefrombeingflat,andnowyou’vesavedmeagain.”“Oh,well…”Arthuryawned.“Stanley?Trytostay,youknow,regularforawhile.”“Iwill,”saidStanley.Soontheywerebothasleep.
TheEnd
THECALL
ItwasSaturdaymorning,andMr.andMrs.Lambchopwereputtingupwallpaperinthekitchen.“Isn’tthisnice,George?”saidMrs.Lambchop,stirringpaste.“Noexcitement.Aperfectlyusual
day.”Mr.Lambchopknewjustwhatshemeant.Excitementwasoftentroublesome.Theflatnessoftheir
sonStanley,forexample,afterhisbigbulletinboardsettledonhimovernight.Exciting,butworryingtoo,tillStanleygotroundagain.Andthatgenievisiting,grantingwishes.Oh,veryexciting!Butallthewisheshadtobeunwishedbeforethegeniereturnedtothelampfromwhichhesprung.
“Yes,dear.”Mr.Lambchopsmootheddownwallpaper.“Ordinary.Theverybestsortofday.”In the living room, Stanley Lambchop and his younger brother,Arthur,werewatching a Tom
ToadcartoononTV.ThesportyToadwaswater-skiingandfelloff,makingagreatsplash.Arthurlaughedsohardhedidn’thearthetelephone,butStanleyansweredit.
“Lambchopresidence?”saidthecaller.“ThePresidentoftheUnitedStatesspeaking.Who’sthis?”Stanleysmiled.“TheKingofFrance.”“Theydon’thavekingsinFrance.Notanymore.”“Excuseme,butI’mtoobusyforjokes.”StanleykepthiseyesontheTV.“MybrotherandIare
watchingtheTomToadShow”
“Well, youkeepwatching, young fellow!”The caller hung up, just asMr. andMrs.Lambchopcameintowatchtherestoftheshow.
“Hey, guesswhat?” Stanley said. “Hay is for horses,” saidMrs. Lambchop,mindful always ofcarefulspeech.“Whocalled,dear?”
Stanleylaughed.“ThePresidentoftheUnitedStates!”Arthurlaughedtoo.“StanleysaidhewastheKingofFrance!”TomToadvanishedsuddenlyfromtheTVscreen,andanAmericanflagappeared.“Webringyou
aspecialmessagefromtheWhiteHouseinWashington,D.C.,”saidthedeepvoiceofanannouncer.“Ladiesandgentlemen,thePresidentoftheUnitedStates!”
ThescreenshowedthePresident,lookingveryserious,behindhisdesk.
“MyfellowAmericans,” thePresidentsaid.“Iamsorry to interrupt thisprogram,butsomeoneouttheredoesn’trealizethatIamaverybusymanwhocan’twaste time jokingon the telephone. IhopetheparticularpersonIamtalkingto—andIdonotmeantheKingofFrance!—willrememberthat.Thankyou.Nowhere’stheToadshowagain.”
TomToad,stillwater-skiing,camebackontheTV.“Stanley!”exclaimedMrs.Lambchop.“TheKingofFranceindeed!”“Gosh!”Arthursaid.“WillStanleygetputinjail?”“There isno lawagainstbeinga telephonesmarty,”Mr.Lambchopsaid. “Perhaps there should
be.”Thetelephonerang,andheansweredit.“GeorgeLambchophere.”“Good!”ItwasthePresident.“I’vebeentryingtogetholdofyou!”“Oh,my!”Mr.Lambchopsaid.“Pleaseexcuse—”“Holdon.You’rethefellowhastheboywasflatonce,gothispictureinthenewspaper?”“MysonStanley,Mr.President,”Mr.Lambchopsaid,tolettheothersknowwhowascalling.“Ihadtobesure,”said thePresident.“Wehavetoget together,Lambchop!I’llsendmyprivate
planerightnow,fetchyouallheretoWashington,D.C.”
ABOUTTHEAUTHOR
JeffBrowncreatedthebelovedcharacterofFlatStanleyasabedtimestoryforhistwosons.HehaswrittenotheroutrageousbooksabouttheLambchopfamily, includingFlatStanley,Stanleyand theMagic Lamp, Invisible Stanley, Stanley’s Christmas Adventure, Stanley in Space, and Stanley, FlatAgain!YoucanlearnmoreaboutJeffBrownandFlatStanleyatwww.flatstanleybooks.com.
MackyPamintuan isanaccomplished illustrator.He lives inSanMigueldeAllende,Mexico,withhiswifeanddog.
Visitwww.AuthorTracker.comforexclusiveinformationonyourfavoriteHarperCollinsauthor.
OTHERWORKS
DON’TMISSANYOFTHESEOUTRAGEOUSSTORIES:
FlatStanley:HisOriginalAdventure!
StanleyandtheMagicLamp
StanleyinSpace
InvisibleStanley
Stanley’sChristmasAdventure
Stanley,FlatAgain!
ANDCATCHFLATSTANLEY’SWORLDWIDEADVENTURES:
TheMountRushmoreCalamity
TheGreatEgyptianGraveRobbery
TheJapaneseNinjaSurprise
COPYRIGHT
InvisibleStanleyTextcopyright©1996byJeffBrown
IllustrationsbyMackyPamintuan,copyright©2009byHarperCollinsPublishers.AllrightsreservedunderInternationalandPan-AmericanCopyrightConventions.Bypaymentoftherequiredfees,youhavebeengrantedthenonexclusive,nontransferablerighttoaccessandreadthetextofthise-bookon-screen.Nopartofthistextmaybereproduced,transmitted,downloaded,decompiled,reverse-engineered,orstoredinorintroducedintoanyinformationstorageand
retrievalsystem,inanyformorbyanymeans,whetherelectronicormechanical,nowknownorhereinafterinvented,withouttheexpresswrittenpermissionofHarperCollinse-books.
EPubEdition©JULY2010ISBN:978-0-062-03382-6
www.harpercollinschildrens.com
LibraryofCongresscatalogcardnumber:2009927742ISBN978-0-06-009792-9
0910111213LP/CW30292827262524232221
Firstpaperbackedition,2003Reillustratededition,2009
BACKAD
Traveltowww.flatstanleybooks.comforgames,globalfacts,penpalopportunities,andmoreactivitiesforkids,parents,andclassrooms!
ABOUTTHEPUBLISHER
AustraliaHarperCollinsPublishers(Australia)Pty.Ltd.Level13,201ElizabethStreetSydney,NSW2000,Australiahttp://www.harpercollins.com.au
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Cover
TitlePage
Dedication
Prologue
1.TheCall
2.Washington
3.TakingOff
4.InSpace
5.TheTyrrans
6.TyrraVille
7.PresidentOt’sStory
8.Stanley’sGoodIdea
9.TheWeighing
10.HeadingHome
11.EarthAgain
AbouttheAuthorandIllustrator
OtherWorks
Credits
Copyright
BackAd
AboutthePublisher
PROLOGUE
“Willyoumeetwithus?Doesanyonehear?”Fromthegreatfarnessofspace,fromfartherthananyplanetorstarthathaseverbeenmentionedin
books,thequestionscame.Againandagain.
“Willyoumeetwithus?Doesanyonehear?”
TheCall
ItwasSaturdaymorning,andMr.andMrs.Lambchopwereputtingupwallpaperinthekitchen.“Isn’tthisnice,George?”saidMrs.Lambchop,stirringpaste.“Noexcitement.Aperfectlyusual
day.”Mr.Lambchopknewjustwhatshemeant.Excitementwasoftentroublesome.Theflatnessoftheir
sonStanley,forexample,afterhisbigbulletinboardsettledonhimovernight.Exciting,butworryingtoo,tillStanleygotroundagain.Andthatgenievisiting,grantingwishes.Oh,veryexciting!Butallthewisheshadtobeunwishedbeforethegeniereturnedtothelampfromwhichhesprung.
“Yes,dear.”Mr.Lambchopsmootheddownwallpaper.“Ordinary.Theverybestsortofday.”In the living room, Stanley Lambchop and his younger brother,Arthur,werewatching a Tom
ToadcartoononTV.ThesportyToadwaswater-skiingandfelloff,makingagreatsplash.Arthurlaughedsohardhedidn’thearthetelephone,butStanleyansweredit.
“Lambchopresidence?”saidthecaller.“ThePresidentoftheUnitedStatesspeaking.Who’sthis?”
Stanleysmiled.“TheKingofFrance.”“Theydon’thavekingsinFrance.Notanymore.”“Excuseme,butI’mtoobusyforjokes.”StanleykepthiseyesontheTV.“MybrotherandIare
watchingtheTomToadShow.”“Well, youkeepwatching, young fellow!”The caller hung up, just asMr. andMrs.Lambchop
cameintowatchtherestoftheshow.“Hey,guesswhat?”Stanleysaid.“Hayisforhorses,”saidMrs.Lambchop,mindfulalwaysofcarefulspeech.“Whocalled,dear?”Stanleylaughed.“ThePresidentoftheUnitedStates!”
Arthurlaughedtoo.“StanleysaidhewastheKingofFrance!”TomToadvanishedsuddenlyfromtheTVscreen,andanAmericanflagappeared.“Webringyou
aspecialmessagefromtheWhiteHouseinWashington,D.C.,”saidthedeepvoiceofanannouncer.“Ladiesandgentlemen,thePresidentoftheUnitedStates!”
ThescreenshowedthePresident,lookingveryserious,behindhisdesk.
“MyfellowAmericans,” thePresidentsaid.“Iamsorry to interrupt thisprogram,butsomeoneout theredoesn’trealize thatIamaverybusymanwhocan’twaste timejokingonthetelephone.IhopetheparticularpersonIamtalkingto—andIdonotmeantheKingofFrance!—willrememberthat.Thankyou.Nowhere’stheToadshowagain.”
TomToad,stillwater-skiing,camebackontheTV.“Stanley!”exclaimedMrs.Lambchop.“TheKingofFranceindeed!”“Gosh!”Arthursaid.“WillStanleygetputinjail?”“There isno lawagainstbeinga telephonesmarty,”Mr.Lambchopsaid. “Perhaps there should
be.”Thetelephonerang,andheansweredit.“GeorgeLambchophere.”“Good!”ItwasthePresident.“I’vebeentryingtogetholdofyou!”“Oh,my!”Mr.Lambchopsaid.“Pleaseexcuse—”“Holdon.You’rethefellowhastheboywasflatonce,gothispictureinthenewspaper?”“MysonStanley,Mr.President,”Mr.Lambchopsaid,tolettheothersknowwhowascalling.“Ihadtobesure,”said thePresident.“Wehavetoget together,Lambchop!I’llsendmyprivate
planerightnow,fetchyouallheretoWashington,D.C.”Mr.Lambchopgasped.“Privateplane?Washington?Allofus?”“Thewholefamily.”ThePresidentchuckled.“IncludingtheKingofFrance.”
Washington
AttheWhiteHouse,inhisfamousOvalOffice,thePresidentshookhandswithalltheLambchops.“Thanksforcoming.”Hechuckled.“Betyouneverthoughtwhenyouwokeupthismorningthat
you’dgettomeetme.”“Indeednot,”Mr.Lambchopsaid.“Thisisquiteasurprise.”
“Well,here’sanotherone,”saidthePresident.“ThereasonIaskedyoutocome.”Hesatdownbehindhisdesk,seriousnow.“Tyrra!Neverheardofit,right?”TheLambchopsallshooktheirheads.“Nobody everheardof it. It’saplanet,up theresomewhere.Theysentamessage, the firstever
fromouterspace!”TheLambchopsweregreatlyinterested.“Imagine!”Mrs.Lambchopexclaimed.“Whatdiditsay?”
“Veryfriendlytone,”thePresidentsaid.“Peaceful,justcheckingaround.Askedustovisit.Now,myplan—”
Asidedoorof theOvalOfficehadopened suddenly to reveal anicelydressed ladywearingacrown.Mrs.LambchoprecognizedheratonceastheQueenofEngland.
“Aboutthebanquet,alsothe—”theQueenbegan,andsawthatthePresidentwasbusy.“Ooops!Webegyourpardon.”Sheclosedthedoor.
“Thisplaceisamadhouse,”thePresidentsaid.“Visitors,fancydinners,noendtoit.Now,where—?Ah,yes!TheStarScout!”
Heleanedforward.“That’s our new top-secret spaceship, just ready now! Send somebody up in the Star Scout, I
thought, to meet with these Tyrrans. But who?Wouldn’t look peaceful to send soldiers, or evenscientists.ThenIthought:WhatcouldbemorepeacefulthanjustanordinaryAmericanboy?”
ThePresidentsmiled.“WhynotStanleyLambchop?”“Stanley?”Mrs.Lambchopgasped.“Inaspaceship?Tomeetwithanalienrace?”“Oh,boy!”saidStanley.“Iwouldlovetogo!”“Metoo,”saidArthur.“It’snotfairif—”“Arthur!”Mr.Lambchopdrewinadeepbreath.“Mr.President,whyStanley?”“It has to be someonewho’s already had adventure experience,” the President said. “Well,my
SecretService showedmeanewspaper story aboutwhenStanleywas flat andcaught two robbers.Robbers!That’sadventure!”
“I’vehadthemtoo!”Arthursaid.“Agenietaughtmetofly,andwehadaLiophant,and—”“Awhat?”“ALiophant,”Arthursaid.“Halflion,halfelephant.They’renice.”“Isthatright?TheSecretServicenever—”“Mr.President?”Mrs.Lambchopdidnotliketointerrupt,butherconcernwasgreat.“Mr.President?”shesaid.“Thismission:Isitsafe?”“Mygoodness,ofcourseit’ssafe!”thePresidentsaid.“Wehavetakengreatcare,Mrs.Lambchop.
TheStarScouthasallthelatestscientificequipment.Andithasbeenverycarefullytested.First,wetried itonautomaticpilot,withnopassengers. Itworkedperfectly!Eventhen,ma’am,wewerenotsatisfied.WesenttheStarScoutupagain, this timewithourcleverest trainedbirdaboard.Buthearforyourself.”ThePresidentspokeintoalittleboxonhisdesk.“SendinDr.Schwartz,please.”
Abeardedmanentered,wearingawhitecoatandcarryingabirdcagewithaclothoverit.Bowing,heremovedtheclothtorevealalarge,brightlycoloredparrot.
“Thankyou,Herman,” thePresident said. “Dr. Schwartz is our top space scientist,” he told theLambchops,“andthisisPolly,thebirdIspokeof.Polly,tellthefolkshereaboutyouradventureintospace.”
“Pieceofcake,”saidtheparrot.“Terrific!Lovedeveryminuteofit!”“Thankyou,Herman,”thePresidentsaid,andDr.SchwartzcarriedPollyaway.“Thatwasveryreassuring,butitisoutofthequestionforStanleytogoalone,”Mrs.Lambchop
said.“However,wewereplanningafamilyvacation.Woulditbepossible,Mr.President,forusalltogo?”
“Well,ifyoudidn’tmindthecrowding,”thePresidentsaid.“Andskimpingonbaggage.”“Actually,wehadinmindtheseaside,”Mr.Lambchopsaid.“Oratenniscamp.But—”TheQueenofEnglandlookedinagain.“Mayweaskif—”“Justaminute,forheaven’ssake!”saidthePresident.“Weshallreturnanon.”Lookingpeeved,theQueenwentaway.Mr.Lambchophaddecided.“Mr.President,theseasidewillkeep.WewillgotoTyrra,sir.”“Wonderful!” The President jumped up. “To the stars, Lambchops! Some training at the Space
Center,andyou’reonyourway!”
TakingOff
“Ten!”saidthevoiceofMissionControl.Thecountdownhadbegun.When it reached“zero,”ChiefPilotStanleyLambchopwouldpress
the“Start”button,andtheStarScoutwouldblastoffforTyrra.“Nine!”Strappedintotheirseats,theLambchopsheldtheirbreaths,eachthinkingverydifferentthoughts.Stanleywaswondering if the Tyrranswouldmind that Earth had sent just an ordinary family.
Supposetheywerebigstuck-upsandexpectedageneraloraTVstar,oreventhePresident?Suppose—“Eight!”saidControl,andStanleyfixedhiseyesonthepanelbeforehim.
Mr.Lambchopwasthinkingthatservingone’scountrywasnoble,but thiswasabitmuch.Howdidthesethingshappen?Offtoanunknownplanet,theentirefamily!Otherfamiliesdidn’thaveasonbecomeflat.Otherfamiliesdidn’tfindgeniesinthehouse.Other—Oh,well!Mr.Lambchopsighed.
“Seven!”saidControl.Mrs. Lambchop thought that Mr. Lambchop seemed fretful. But why, now that the Star Scout
lookedsonice?Thankstoher,infact.“Theymaycallitaspaceship,”shehadsaidwhenshefirstsawit,“butwhere’sthespace?Justoneroom!Andallgray…?Drab,Isay!”MuchofthetrainingattheSpace Center, however, was physical, and Mrs. Lambchop, who jogged and exercised regularly,quicklypassedthetestsrequired.Inthedaysthatfollowed,whiletheotherswerebeingmadefit,sheusedherfreetimetomaketheStarScoutmorelikehome.Onlysomuchweightwaspermitted,butshe managed a bathroom scale for the shower alcove and a plastic curtain, pretty shades for theportholes, a venetian blind for the Magnifying Exploration Window, and posters of Mexico andFrance.
“Six!…Five!…Four!…Three!…”Mrs.Lambchopmadesureherpursewassnugbeneathherseat.Arthur,bynature lazy,was thinking thathewasglad tobedonewithall the jogging, jumping,
climbing ladders, and scalingwalls.Whenhewas super-strong, thanks to thegenie, itwouldhavebeeneasy.ButforjustplainArthurLambchop,hethought,itwastiring.
“Two!”saidControl.“Goodluck,everybody!One!”
“Payattention,dear,”Mrs.LambchoptoldStanley.“Zero!”saidControl,andStanleypressedthe“Start”button.Whrooom!Rocketsroaring,theStarScoutrosefromitslaunchingpad.Whroooooom!Whroooooom!Gainingspeed,itsoaredhigherandhigher,carryingtheLambchops
towardthefarnesswhereTyrralay.
InSpace
“I’lljustflipthisomelette,”saidMrs.Lambchop,makingbreakfastintheStarScout,“andthen—Oh,dear!”TheomelettehoveredlikeaFrisbeeintheairaboveher.
Mostly, however, afterweeks in space, the Lambchops remembered that gravity, the force thatheld thingsdown,didnotexistbeyondEarth’satmosphere.Mr.Lambchopoften readnowwithhishandsclaspedbehindhishead,allowinghisbooktofloatbeforehim,andStanleyandArthurgreatlyenjoyedpushingfromtheirchairstodriftlikefeathersacrosstheroom.
Raisingherpan,Mrs.Lambchopbroughtdowntheomelette.“Afterbreakfast,what?”shesaid.“AgameofMonopoly?”
“Please, not again.”Arthur sighed. “If I’d known this adventurewould be so boring, I’d neverhavecome.”
“Theworstpart,”Stanleysaid,“isnotknowinghowlongitwilllast.”“The beginningwasn’t boring,”Arthur said as they began their breakfast. “The beginningwas
fun.”
Thefirstdayshadinfactbeentremendouslyexciting.TheyhadspentmanyhoursattheStarScout’s
MagnifyingWindow,watchingthebrightglobeofEarthgrowsteadilysmaller,untilitseemedatlastonlyapalemarble in theblackof space.And therehadbeenmanyspecial sights to see: the starrybeautyoftheMilkyWay,theplanets—redMars,giantJupiter,cloudyVenus,Saturnwithitsshiningrings.
ThethirdeveningtheyappearedonTVnewsbroadcastsonEarth.Wordoftheirvoyagehadbeenreleased to the press, and all over the world people were eager to learn how this extraordinaryadventurewasproceeding.Standingbeforethespaceship’scamera,theLambchopssaidtheyfeltfine,lookedforwardtomeetingtheTyrrans,andwouldreportnightlywhiletheyremainedinTVrange.
The fourth evening they floated before the camera, demonstrating weightlessness. This wasgreatlyappreciatedonEarth,andtheyfloatedagainthefollowingday.
Bythesixthevening,however,theywerehard-pressedtoliventheirappearances.Mr.Lambchoprecited a baseball poem, “Casey at the Bat.” Stanley juggled tennis balls, but the Earth audience,knowingnowaboutweightlessness,sawtheballsfloatwhenhetossedthemup.Arthurdidimitationsofarooster,adog,andamanstuckinaphonebooth.Afterthis,whileMrs.Lambchopwassinginghercollegesong,hewentbehindtheplasticcurtaintoundressforashowerandaccidentallypulledthecurtaindown.Hewasmortified,andshetriedlatertocomforthim.
“Wewill be remembered,Arthur, for our time in space,” she said. “Nobodywill care about acurtain.”
“I will be remembered forever,” Arthur said. “A hundred million people saw me in myunderwear.”
ThenextdaywasStanley’sbirthday,andjustafterdinnerthescreenlitup.TherewasthePresidentinhisshirtsleeves,behindhisdeskinWashington,D.C.
“Well, here I amworking late again,” the President said. “It’s a tough job, believeme.Happybirthday,StanleyLambchop!I’vearrangedasurprise.First,yourfriendsfromschool.”
Therewassilence foramoment,brokenonlyby theclearingof throats,and then, fromall themillions of miles away, came the voices of Stanley’s classmates singing, “Happy Birthday, dearStanley!HappyBirthdaytoyou!”
Stanleywastremendouslypleased.“Thanks,everybody!”hesaid.“Youtoo,Mr.President.”“ThatwasjusttheU.S.A.part,”saidthePresident.“ReadyoverthereinLondon,Queen?”
“We are indeed,” theQueen’s voice said cheerfully. “And now,Master Lambchop, our famousWestminsterBoys’Choir!”
FromEngland,thebeautifulvoicesofthefamouschoirsang“HappyBirthday,Stanley!”alloveragain,andthenotherchildrensangitfromGermany,Spain,andFrance.
AllthisattentiontoStanleymadeArthurjealous,andwhenthePresidentsaid,“Bytheway,Arthur,youentertaineduswonderfullytheothernight,”hewassurethiswasateaseabouthisappearanceinunderwear.Buthewaswrong.
“Thoseimitations!”thePresidentsaid.“Especiallythefellowinthephonebooth.Darngood!”“Indeed!”theQueenaddedfromEngland.“Weweregreatlyamused.”“Oh,thankyou!”saidArthur,cheered.“I—”Thescreenhadgoneblank.Theyhadtraveledtoofar.TherewouldbenomorevoicesfromEarth,novoicesbut theirown
untiltheyheardwhattheTyrranshadtosay.
“Suppose the Tyrrans have forgottenwe’re coming?” Stanley said. “Wemight just sail around inspaceforever.”
Theyhadfinishedthebreakfastomelette,andwerenowsettingouttheMonopolyboardbecausetherewasnothingmoreinterestingtodo.
“Theydon’tevenknowournames,”Arthursaid.“Whatwilltheycallus?”“Earthpeople!”saidadeepvoice.“Veryprobably,”saidMr.Lambchop.“‘Earthpeople’seems—Whosaidthat?”“Notme,”saidbothStanleyandArthur.“NotI,”saidMrs.Lambchop,correcting.“Butwho—”“Earthpeople!”Thevoice, loudernow,came from theStarScout’s radio. “Greetings from the
greatplanetTyrraanditsmightypeople!Doyouhear?”“Oh,my!”Mr.Lambchopturnedupthevolume.“It’sthem!”“They,”saidMrs.Lambchop.“Forheaven’ssake,Harriet!”Mr.Lambchopsaid,andspokeloudlyintothemicrophone.“Hello,
Tyrra.Earthpeoplehere.Partyoffour.Peace-lovingfamily.”“Peace-loving?”saidthevoice.“Good!SoismightyTyrra!Whereareyou,Earthpeople?”Stanley checked his starmaps. “We’re justwhere the tail ofRalph’sCometmeets star number
threemillionandforty-seven.Nowwhat?”“Right,”saidtheTyrranvoice.“Keepgoingtillyoupassastarformationthatlookslikeafoot.
You can’t miss it. Then, just past a lopsided little white moon, start down. You’ll see a pointymountain,thenabigfield.Landthere.Seeyousoon,Earthpeople!”
“Youbet!”Mr.Lambchopsaid,andturnedtohisfamily.“Thefirstcontactwithanotherplanet!Wearemakinghistory!”
Theypassedthefoot-shapedstarformation,thenthelopsidedmoon,andStanleypilotedtheStarScoutdown.Thedarknessofspacevanishedasitdescended,andat last theLambchopssawclearlytheplanetithadtakensolongtoreach.
Tyrrawassmallishasplanetsgo,butnicelyroundandquitepretty,all inshadesofbrownwithmarkings not unlike the oceans and continents of Earth. A pointy mountain came into sight, andbeyonditabigfield.
“There!”Stanleypressedthe“Landing”button.Whrooom!wenttheStarScout’srockets.Thespaceshiphovered,thentoucheddown.Peeringout, theLambchopssawonlyabrownfield,with tan treesat the farsideandbrownish
hillsbeyond.“Curious,”saidMr.Lambchop.“Whereare—”Suddenlyamessagecame,butnotthesorttheyexpected.“Surrender,Earthpeople!”saidtheradio.“Yourspaceshipistrappedbyourunbreakabletrapping
cable!YouareprisonersofTyrra!Surrender!”
TheTyrrans
Unbreakable trapping cable? Prisoners? Surrender? The Lambchops could scarcely believe theirears.
“Idon’tcallthatpeaceful,”saidMrs.Lambchop.“OurPresidenthasbeenmisled.”“Iwishwehadgonetotheseaside.”Mr.Lambchopshookhishead.“Buthowarewe trapped?I
don’t—”HepointedtotheMagnifyingWindow.“What’sthat?”Athinblueline,likeathread,hadbeenpassedovertheStarScout.Stanleyswitchedonthewiper
abovethebigwindowandthefirstflickofitsbladepartedtheblueline.“Drat!”saidtheradio.Othervoicesrose,startled,andthenthedeepvoicespokeagain.“Earthpeople!We’resendinga
messenger!Aregular,ordinaryTyrran,justtoshowwhatwe’relike.”Forlongmoments,theLambchopskepttheireyesonthetantreesacrossthefield.“There!”Arthursaidsuddenly.“Comingtoward—Oh!Oh,my…”Hisvoicetrailedaway.The Tyrran messenger came slowly forward to stand before the big window, a muscular,
scowlingyoungmanwithacurlingmustache,wearingshortsandcarryingaclub.Themustachewasverylarge.Themessengerwasnot.“Thatman,”Mrs.Lambchopsaidslowly,“isonlythreeinchestall.”“Atmost,”Mr.Lambchopsaid.“Itisamagnifyingwindow.”TheTyrranseemedtobecallingsomething.Arthuropenedthedooracrack,andthewordscame
clearlynow.“…afraidtoletusseeyou,Earthpeople?BecauseI’msoenormous?Hah!AllTyrransarethisbig!”
Flinging the doorwide,Arthur showed himself. “Well, I’m a small Earth person!” he shouted.“Therestareevenbiggerthanme!”
“I,notme,”Mrs.Lambchopsaid.“Anddon’ttease,Arth—Oh!He’sfainted!”Wettingherhandkerchiefwithcoldwater,shejumpeddownfromtheStarScoutandrantodabthe
Tyrran’stinybrow.Criesroseagainfromthespaceship’sradio.“AgiantkilledIk!…There’sanother,evenbigger!
…Oh,gross!…Look!Ik’sallright!”TheTyrran,bygraspingMrs.Lambchop’shandkerchief,hadindeedpulledhimselfup.Furious,
heswunghisclub,butmanagedonlytotapthetopofhershoe.“Ouch!Scat!”shesaid,andhedartedbackacrossthefield.
“Oh,my!”saidtheradio.“Nevermindaboutsurrendering,Earthpeople!Atrucecommitteeisontheway!”
Atfirsttheysawonlyatinyflag,flutteringlikeawhitebutterflyfaracrossthebrownfield,butatlastthe Tyrran committee drew close, and the Lambchops, waiting now outside the Star Scout, couldmakeeachlittlepersonout.
The flag was carried by the scowling young man with the mustache and the club. The othermembersofthecommittee,abitsmallereventhanhe,wereared-facedmanwearingauniformwithmedalsacrossthechest,astoutladyinayellowdressandahatwithflowersonit,andtwooldermeninbluesuits,onewithwavywhitehair,theotherthinandbald.
Thecommitteehalted,staringbravelyup.“IamGeneralAp!”shoutedtheuniformedman.“CommanderofallTyrranforces!”Stanley stepped forward. “Chief Pilot StanleyLambchop,” he said. “FromEarth.These aremy
parents,Mr.andMrs.GeorgeLambchop.Andmybrother,Arthur.”“PresidentOtofTyrra,andMrs.Ot,” saidGeneralAp, indicating thewavy-hairedmanand the
lady.“ThebaldchapisDr.Ep,ourChiefScientist.Thegrouchyonewiththeflagismyaide,CaptainIk.”
Nooneseemedsurewhattosaynext.Afewpoliteremarkswereexchanged—“Nicemeetingyou,Earthpeople!”…“Suchaprettyplanet,Tyrra!”…“Thankyou.Wereyouverylonginspace?”—andMr.LambchoprealizedsuddenlythattheTyrranswereuncomfortabletalkingalmoststraightup.Hegotdownonhisknees,theotherLambchopsfollowinghisexample,andtheTyrransatonceloweredtheirheadsinrelief.
“Right!”saidGeneralAp.“Allreasonablepeoplehere!Atruce,eh?”“I’m forwar, frankly,” growledCaptain Ik, but Stanley pretended not to hear. “A truce?Good
idea,”hesaid.“Wecomeinpeace.”Mrs.Ot sniffed. “Not verypeaceful, frighteningpoorCaptain Ik.”Shepointed atArthur. “That
giantshoutedathim!”“Myson is not agiant,”Mrs.Lambchop said. “It’s just that youTyrrans are—how toput it?—
unusuallypetite.”“Ik’sthebiggestwe’vegot,actually,”saidGeneralAp.“Wehopedhe’dscareyou.”PresidentOtraisedhishand.“Noharmdone!Come!TyrraVille,ourcapital,isbutastrollaway.”TheLambchops,equippednowwithhandymagnifying lensesfromtheStarScout’ssciencekit,
followedthecommittee.TyrraVillelayjustacrossthebrownfield,behindthetantrees,nolargerthananEarth-sizetennis
court.
TyrraVille
“Gosh!”Stanleysaid.“Itmakesmehomesick,inaway.”Except for its size, and the lackof greenness, theTyrran capitalwas indeedmuch like a small
village on Earth. A Main Street bustled with Tyrrans shopping and running errands; there werehandsomeschoolandpublicbuildings, twochurcheswith spiresashighasMr.Lambchop’swaist,andsidestreetsofprettyhouseswithlawnslikeneatbrownpostagestamps.
CaptainIk,stillangry,marchedonahead,buttherestofthecommitteehaltedattheheadofMainStreet.
“We’lljustshowyouaround,eh?”saidPresidentOt.“Safer,Ithink.”TheLambchopssawatoncetheriskofwalkingstreetsscarcelywiderthantheirfeet.Escortedby
thecommittee, theycircled the little capital,bendingoften tomakeuseof theirmagnifying lenses.Mrs. Ot took care to indicate points of particular interest, among themUx Field, a sports center,Admiral Ux Square, Ux Park, and the Ux Science Center Building. (“Mrs. Ot’s grandfather,”whisperedGeneralAp.“Veryrich!”)
Thetourcausedagreatstir.EverywherethetinycitizensofTyrraVillewavedfromwindowsandrooftops.AttheScienceCenter,thelaststop,journaliststookphotographs,andtheLambchopsweretreatedtoGrapeFizzola, theTyrrannationaldrink,hundredsofbottlesofwhichwereemptiedintofourtubstomakeEarth-sizeportions.
RefreshedbyhisFizzola,ArthurtookalittlerunandhurdledalargepartofTyrraVille,landinginUxSquare.“Arthur!”Mrs.Lambchopscolded,andhehurdledback.
“Aren’t kids the dickens?” said a Tyrranmother, looking on. “Mine—Stop tugging, Herbert!”Theselastwordsseemedaddressedtothegroundbesideher.“Myyoungest,”sheexplained.
Stanleysquinted.“Icanhardly—He’sjustadot.”“Dotyourself!”saidanangryvoice.“Big-a-rooney!You’rethefunny-lookingone!”“Herbert!”hismothersaid.“Itisrudetomakefunofpeoplefortheirshapeorsize!”“AsIsaidmyself,often,whenStanleywasflat!”Mrs.Lambchopexclaimed.“Ifonly—”“Surrender,Earthpeople!”The cry had come from Captain Ik, who appeared now from behind the Science Center,
staggeringbeneaththeweightofaboxlikemachinealmostasbigashewas,withatubestickingoutofit.
“Surrender!”heshouted.“YoucannotresistourMagno-TitanicParalyzerRay!Tyrrawillyetbesaved!”
“There’satruce,Ik!”barkedGeneralAp.“Youcan’t—”“Yes,Ican!First—Ooops!”CaptainIk’skneeshadbuckled,butherecoveredhimself.“FirstI’ll
paralyzetheonewhoscaredmebackthereinthefield!”YellowlightflickeredupatArthurfromtheMagno-TitanicParalyzer.“Yikes!”saidArthur,asshrieksrosefromthecrowd.But it was not on Arthur that theMagno-Titanic beam landed. Stanley had sprung forward to
protect his brother, and the light shone now on his chest and shoulders. Mrs. Lambchop almostfainted.
Suddenlyherfrightwasgone.Stanleywassmiling.Theyellowraysstillflickeringuponhim,herolledhisheadandwiggledhis
handstoshowthathewasfine.“It’snice,actually,”hesaid.“Likeamassage.”Thecrowdhooted.“ItonlyworksonpeopleTyrran-size!”someonecalled.“You’reaninny,Ik!”
ThenCaptainIkwasmarchedoffbyaTyrranpoliceman,andthecrowd,stilllaughing,driftedaway.Mrs.Lambchopspokesternlytothecommittee.“‘Tyrrawillyetbesaved’?WhatdidCaptainIk
mean?Andwhy,praytell,didheattempttoparalyzemyson?”TheOtsandGeneralApexchangedglances.Dr.Epstaredattheground.“Ah!”saidPresidentOt.“Well…Thefact is,we’rehavinga…Acrisis,actually.Yes.AndIk,
well,he,ah—”“Oh,tellthem!”Mrs.Otburstsuddenlyintotears.“AbouttheSuper-Gro!Tell,forheaven’ssake!”Puzzled,theLambchopsstaredather.Theskyhaddarkened,andnowalightrainbegantofall.“Wettish,eh?”saidGeneralAp.“Can’toffershelter,I’mafraid.Noplacelargeenough.”“TheStarScoutwilldonicely,”saidMrs.Lambchop.“Letusreturntoitfortea.”
PresidentOt’sStory
“Teadoeshelp.Iamquitemyselfagain.”Mrs.Otnoddedtoherhusband.“Goon,dear.Tell.”RaindrummedfaintlyontheStarScout,makingevencozierthescenewithin.Aroundthedining
table,theLambchopsoccupiedtheirusualplaces.TheTyrranssatatopthetableonthumbtackspusheddowntoserveasstools,sippingfromtinycupsMrs.Lambchophadfashionedfromaluminumfoil,andnibblingcrumbsofherhomemadegingersnaps.
Now,sighing,PresidentOtsetdownhiscup.“You will have observed, Lambchops,” he said, “how greatly we have enjoyed these tasty
refreshments. The fact is, Tyrra has for some time been totallywithout fresh food orwater fit todrink.Welivenowonlybywhattinsandbottleswehadinstore.”
Mrs.Otmadeaface.“Pinkmeatspreads,andspinach.AndthatdreadfulFizzola.”“Abitsweet,yes,”saidGeneralAp.“Givesonegas,too.But—”
“Nevermind!”criedMrs.Ot.PresidentOtcontinued.“Thecauseofourtragedy,Lambchops,wasSuper-Gro.Aninventionof
Dr.Ep’s.Super-Gro,Eppromised,woulddoubleourcrops,makethemdoublesize,doubledeliciousaswell.Agreatconcept,hesaid.”
“Wescientists,”saidDr.Ep,“dreamlargerthanothermen.”“Forthreedays,at theScienceCenter,”PresidentOtwenton,“EpbrewedhisSuper-Gro.Great
smellyvatsofit,enoughforthewholeplanet.Butthen…Oh,noTyrranwilleverforgetthatfourthday!ImyselfwasstrollingthroughUxPark.Howbeautifulitwas!Thetreesandgrasssogreen,thesky—”
“Green?”saidArthur.“Buteverything’sbrownhere,notgreen!”“Amishap,”murmuredDr.Ep.“WiththeSuper-Gro.”“Mishap?”barkedGeneralAp.“Thestuffexploded,Ep!Allovertheplace!”“Well,nobody’sperfect.”Dr.Ephunghishead.“Allthosehugevats,Lambchops!”PresidentOtcontinued.“Boom!Oneafteranother!Shattered
windows, blew the roof off the ScienceCenter!No one hurt, thank goodness, but great clouds ofsmoke, darkening the sky! And then—such dreadful luck!—it began to rain. A tremendous rain,mixingwiththesmoke,fallingalloverTyrra,intotherivers,ontoeveryfieldandgarden,everybitofgreenery.”
Risingfromhisthumbtack,hepacedbackandforthacrossthetable.“Whentherainstopped,therewasnogreen.None.Justbrown.Worse,Ep’stestsprovedthatour
waterwasundrinkable,and thatnowhereonTyrrawouldanythinggrow. Ibroadcastatonce to thenation.‘Donotdespair,’Isaid,‘Tyrrawillsoonrecover.’”
“Oh,good!”Mr.Lambchopsaid.PresidentOtshookhishead.“Ilied.Icouldn’ttellthetruth,forfearofcausingpanic,yousee.The
testsshowedthatitwouldbeayearatleastbeforeTyrrawasgreenagain.Andlongbeforethatwewillhaveemptiedourlasttin,ourlastbottleofFizzola.”
Hesatdownagain,coveringhisfacewithhishands.
“So thenwe…Wesentamessage, intospace.Luresomeotherplanet’sspaceship,we thought.
Holditforransom,yousee,makethemsendfoodandwater.Oh,shameful!Underhanded.Youwillneverforgiveus,Iknow…”
Hisvoicetrailedaway,andtherewasonlythepatteroftherain.Closetotears, theLambchopslookedateachother, thenat thelittlepeopleonthetabletop.The
Tyrransseemedparticularlytinynow,andbrave,andnice.“Youpoordears!”Mrs.Lambchopsaid.“Therewasnoneedtoconquerus.Wewouldhelpyou
willingly,ifwecould.”TheTyrrans seemedat firstunable tobelieve theirears.Then, suddenly, their faces shonewith
joy.“Blessyou!”criedGeneralAp.“Saved!”Mrs.Otclappedherhands.“Wearesaved!”“Saved…?”saidMrs.Lambchop.“Ofcourse!”saidPresidentOt.“Don’tyousee?Earth’sspaceshipscanbringfoodandwatertill—
Oh!What’swrong?”ItwasArthurwhoexplained.“I’mverysorry,”hesaid.“Butthere’sjusttheStarScout.Earthhasn’tgotanyotherspaceships.
Anditwouldtakeyearstobuildthem.”TheTyrransgasped.“Years…?”saidDr.Ep.Stanleyfeltsosadhecouldhardlyspeak.“Andit’snousegoingforfoodintheStarScout,”he
said.“BythetimewereturnedfromEarth,you’dallbe—Well,youknow.”“Dead,”saidMrs.Ot.IntheStarScout,aterriblesilencefell.Thefactswereclear.ThecupboardsofTyrrawouldsoon
beempty.Andthenallitstinypeoplewouldstarvetodeath.
Stanley’sGoodIdea
Theteapotwascoldnow,andalastcookiecrumblayunwantedonaplate.GloomhunglikeadarkcloudwithintheStarScout.
“It’snotfair,”Arthursaidforthethirdtime.“It’sjustnot.”“Stopsayingthat,”Stanleytoldhim.“That’sfourtimesnow.”“Five,”saidDr.Ep.
GeneralAp tried tobecheerful. “Ah,well…Still some tinnedmeat, eh?AndplentyofGrapeFizzola.Muchtobethankfulfor.”
“IwillneverbethankfulforGrapeFizzola,”saidMrs.Ot.“It’sjustthat…”Arthursighed.“Imean,Earthhassomuchfood.Millionsofpeople,andthere’s
mostlystillenough.”TheTyrransseemedamazed.“Millions?You’rejoking?”saidPresidentOt.“Hah!”saidGeneralAp.“Dreadfulcrush,Ishouldthink.Millions?”
Mrs.Lambchopsmiled.“Withallourgreatnations,manymillions.Andstillthenumbersgrow.”“Well,heretoo.”PresidentOtshookhishead.“Youthfulmarriages,babiesoneafteranother.But
millions?Ourpopulation—there’sjustTyrraVille,ofcourse—issixhundredandeighty-three.”“Eighty-four,”saidMrs.Ot.“Mrs.Ixhadababylastnight.”NowitwastheLambchopswhowereamazed.“JustTyrraVille?”Arthurcried.“ButTyrraVille’syourcapital,yousaid!”“Well,itwouldhavetobe,wouldn’tit,dear?”saidMrs.Ot.Stanleyshookhishead.“Onthewholeplanet,onlysixhundredandeighty-fourTyrrans!Gosh,
I’llbet—Wait!”Anideahadcometohim.Stanleyhadhadexcitingideasbefore,butnonethatexcitedhimasthis
onedid.“Mrs.Ot!”heshouted.“Howmuchdoyouweigh?”
“Stanley!”saidMrs.Lambchop.Mrs.Otwasnotoffended.“Actually, I’ve slimmedabit.Thoughnot, sadly, in thehips. I’msix
ounces,youngman.Whydoyouask?”ThewordsrushedoutofStanley.“Becauseifyou’reaverage,onlychildrenwouldbeevenlighter,
thenalltheTyrransputtogetherwouldweigh—Letmefigurethisout!”“Lessthanthreehundredpounds,”saidMr.Lambchop,whowasgoodatmath.“ThoughIdon’t
see—”Thenhedidsee.“Oh!Goodforyou,Stanley!”“Thelad’sbright,weknow,”saidGeneralAp.“Butwhat—”“General!”saidMr.Lambchop.“SummonallTyrransheretotheStarScout!Fetchwhatremains
ofyourtinnedfoodandGrapeFizzola!PerhapsEarthcanbeyourhometillTyrraisgreenagain!”
TheWeighing
From each little house on each little street, theTyrrans came, everyman,woman, and child, evenCaptainIkwithaguardfromthejail.Therainhadstopped,andtheeveninglightshonegoldonthebrownfieldinwhichthetinypeoplestoodassembled.
PresidentOtaddressedthem.“FellowTyrrans!Imustconfessthatyourgovernmenthasdeceivedyou!Thetruthis:Itwillbeatleastayearbeforeourfieldsandstreamsarefitagain.”
Criesrosefromthecrowd.“Wewereliedto!”…“Lordy,talkaboutbadnews!”…“We’llstarve!”…“Shootthescientists!”
“Wait!” shouted PresidentOt. “We are offered refuge on Earth, if the voyage is possible! Payattention,please!”
Steppingforward,Mr.LambchopreadaloudfromthebookletthathadcomewiththeStarScout.“‘Your spacecraft has been designed for safety aswell as comfort. Use only as directed.’”He
raisedhisvoice.“‘Donotaddweightbybringingsouvenirsaboardorbyinvitingfriendstoridewithyou.’”
Criesroseagain.“Thatdidit!”…“We’renotsouvenirs!”…“Hesaidnofriendseither,stupid!”…“We’vehadit,lookslike!”
Mr. Lambchop raised his hand. “There is still hope! But you must all be weighed! Also thesuppliesyouwouldrequireforthetrip!”
TheStarScout’sbathroomscale,setdowninthefield,provedtoohighfortheTyrrans,andtheweighingwasbrieflydelayeduntilArthur,using theMonopolyboard,madea rampbywhich theycouldeasilymount.
GeneralApbarkedorders.“Right,then!Groupsoftwentytotwenty-five,familiestogether!Anddon’tjiggle!”
TheOtsandsixotherfamiliesmarchedupontothescale,besidewhichMrs.Lambchopstoodwithpadandpencil.“Sevenandone-quarterpounds!”shesaid,writingitdown.
“Next!”shoutedGeneralAp,buttheOtgroupwasalreadystartingdown,andanothermarchingup.
Group after group mounted the scale. There was jiggling, due to excited children, but Mrs.Lambchoptookcaretowaituntiltheneedlewasstill.WithinanhourtheentirepopulationofTyrrahadbeenweighed,alongwithitssuppliesoftinnedfoodandFizzola,andsheaddedup.
“Tyrrans,twohundredandthirty-nine,”sheannounced.“FoodandFizzola,onehundredandforty.Total:Threehundredandseventy-ninepounds!”
“Arewesaved?Orarewetoofat?”cameacry.“Toosoontotell!”Mr.Lambchopcalledback.“Wemustseehowwecanlightenourship!”A good start was made by discarding the Star Scout’s dining table and one steel bunk, since
Stanley andArthur could easily share. Then outwent Stanley’s tennis balls, extra sweater, and hisChiefPilotzip jacketwith theAmerican flag;outwentArthur ’skneesocks, raincoat,andaplasticgorilla he had smuggled aboard. Mr. and Mrs. Lambchop added their extra clothing, lamps,kitchenware,theMonopolygame,andatlast,thepostersofMexicoandFrance.
Thecrowdstoodhushedasthepilewasweighed.Somewhereababycried,anditsparentsscoldedit.
“Three hundred and seventy-seven pounds!” Mrs. Lambchop announced. “Oh, dear!” shewhisperedtoPresidentOt.“Twolessthanweneed.”
“Isee.”PresidentOt,afteramoment’sthought,climbedupontothescale.“Goodnews,Tyrrans!”hecalled.“Almostallofusaresaved!”
Cheerswentup,andthensomeoneshouted,“Whatdoyoumean,almostall?”“Weweigh,asanation,abittoomuch,”PresidentOtexplained.“Butonlyfour,iflargish,need
staybehind.Ishallbeone.Willthreemorevolunteer?”Murmurs rose from thecrowd. “That’smy kindofPresident!”…“Leave Ikbehind!”…“How
aboutyou,Ralph?”…“Asksomebodyelse,darnyou!”Thematterwasquicklyresolved.“Iwon’tgowithoutyou,dear,”Mrs.Ottoldherhusband,and
CaptainIk,hopingtoregainpopularity,announcedthathetoowouldremain.GeneralApwasthefourthvolunteer.“Justanoldsoldier,ma’am,”hetoldMrs.Lambchop.“Lived
afulllife,timenowtojustfadeaway,to—”“Hey!Wait!”Arthurwaspointingtothescale.
HeadingHome
“Mr. and Mrs. Ix, and the new baby?” said President Ot, beside his wife on a ledge above theMagnifyingWindow.“Ah,yes,onthefridge!”
The people of Tyrra were being made as comfortable as possible in the various nooks andcrannies of the Star Scout. Stanley and Arthur had cleared a cupboard where Tyrra High Schoolstudentscouldstudyduringthetrip,andMrs.Lambchophadcutupsheetstomakehundredsoflittleblankets,andputoutbitsofcottonforpillows.“Makeshift,Mrs.Ix,”shesaidnow,settlingtheIxesonthefridge.“Butsuchshortnotice.Backabitfromtheedge,yes?”
“Shortnoticeindeed,”saidMrs.Ix.“Somany—”“Nottoworry.”Mrs.Lambchopsmiledproudly.“Myson,theChiefPilot,willcallahead.”From a nearby shelf, Captain Ik whispered an apology for attempting to paralyze Arthur.
“BetweenyouandI,Ididn’treallythinkitwouldwork,”hesaid.“Betweenyouandme,”saidMrs.Lambchop.“Butthankyou,CaptainIk.”SheturnedtoStanley.
“We’reallready,dear!”Stanleycheckedhiscontrols.“Let’sgo!”“Tyrrans!”PresidentOtcalledforattention.“Ournationalanthem!”Everywhere in theStar Scout, Tyrrans rose, their right hands over their hearts.“Hmmmm…”
hummedMrs.Ot,settingakey,andtheybegantosing.
“Tyrra,thelovely!Tyrra,thefree!Hear,dearplanet,ourpromisetothee!Wheree’erwemaygo,wheree’erwemayroam,We’llcomebacktoTyrra,Tyrraourhome!”
The words echoed in the softly lit cabin. Many Tyrrans were weeping, and the eyes of theLambchops,astheytooktheirseats,glistenedtoo.
“Beiteversohumble,there’snoplanetsodear,We’llalwaysloveTyrra,fromfarorfrom—”
Stanleypressedthe“Start”button,and—Whroooom!—theStarScout’srocketsroaredtolife.Thesingingstoppedsuddenly,andMrs.Ixcriedoutfromthefridge.“Oh,my!Isthisthingsafe?”“Yesindeed,”Mrs.Lambchopcalledback.“Perhaps,”saidMrs.Ix.“ButitismybeliefthatifTyrransweremeanttofly,we’dhavewings.”Whroooom!Whroooom!TheStarScoutliftednow,gainingspeedasitrose.Itsmissionwasdone.Thestrangerswhohad
calledfromadistantplanetwerenolongerstrangers,butfriends.Itwasallverysatisfactory,Stanleythought.TheotherLambchopsthoughtsotoo.
EarthAgain
“…realpleasuretowelcomeyou,Tyrrans,”saidthePresident,almostdonewithhisspeech.“IwishyouafineyearonEarth!”
Before him on the White House lawn, with newspaper and TV reporters all about, sat theLambchopsand,inatinygrandstandbuiltespeciallyfortheoccasion,thepeopleofTyrra.
TheTyrranswerenowapplaudingpolitely,buttheylookednervous,andMrs.Lambchopguessedwhy.ThatcrowdattheSpaceCenterfortheStarScout’slanding,thatdrivethroughcrowdedstreetsintoWashington,D.C.! PoorTyrrans!Everywhere they looked, giant buildings, giant people.Howcouldtheyfeelcomfortablehere?
But a surprisewas in store.Across the lawn, a greatwhite sheet had been spread.Now, at thePresident’ssignal,workmenpulledthesheetaway.
“Welcome,”saidthePresident,“toTyrraVilleTwo!”GaspsrosefromtheTyrrans,thenshoutsofjoy.Beforethem,onwhathadbeentheWhiteHousetenniscourt,layanentirevillageoftinyhouses,
oneforeachTyrranfamily,withshopsandschoolsandchurches,andaminiaturerailwayservingallprincipalstreets.BegunwhenStanleycalledaheadfromspace,TyrraVilleTwohadbeencompletedwellbeforetheStarScout’sarrival,thankstorushdeliveriesfromleadingtoystoresinWashingtonandNewYork.
TheexcitedTyrransranfromthegrandstandtoexploretheirnewhomes,andsoonhappyvoicesrose from every window and doorway of TyrraVille Two. “Nice furniture!” … “Hooray! Freshlemonade! No more Fizzola!” … “In the cupboards, see? Shirts, dresses, suits, shoes!” …“Underwear,even!”
TheOts,GeneralAp,Dr.Ep,andCaptainIkcamebacktosaygood-bye,andtheLambchopsknelttotouchfingertipsinfarewell.TheTVmenfilmedthis,andArthurmadeeveryonelaugh,pretendingtobeparalyzedbythetouchofCaptainIk.Thenthenewsmenleft,theTyrransreturnedtoTyrraVilleTwo,andonlythePresidentremainedwiththeLambchopsontheWhiteHouselawn.
“Well,backtowork.”ThePresidentsighed.“Good-bye,Lambchops.You’reallheroes,youknow.Savedthenation.”
“Notreally,”Stanleysaid.“Theycouldn’thaveconqueredus.”“Well,youknowwhatImean,”thePresidentsaid.“Youfolkscaretostayforsupper?”“Thank you, no,”Mrs. Lambchop said. “It is quite late, and this has been an exciting but very
tiringday.”
Itwasbedtimewhentheygothome.StanleyandArthurhadalightsupper,withhotchocolatetohelpthemsleep,afterwhichMr.andMrs.Lambchoptuckedtheminandsaidgoodnight.
Thebrotherslayquietlyinthedarknessforamoment.ThenArthurchuckled.
“TheMagno-TitanicParalyzerwassortofscary,”hesaid.“Youwerebrave,Stanley,protectingme.”
“That’sokay,”Stanleysaid.“You’remybrother,right?”“I know…”Arthurwas sleepy now. “Stanley?When the Tyrrans go back,will their land and
waterbeokay?Willtheyletusknow?”“Iguessso.”Stanleywasdrowsytoo.“Goodnight,Arthur.”“Goodnight,”saidArthur,andsoontheywerebothasleep.
Andintime,fromthegreatfarnessofspace,butafarnessnolongerstrangeorunknown,another
messagecame.
“Wearehome.Alliswell.”Andagain.
“Wearehome!Thankyou,Earth!Alliswell!”
TheEnd
ABOUTTHEAUTHORANDILLUSTRATOR
JeffBrowncreatedthebelovedcharacterofFlatStanleyasabedtimestoryforhistwosons.HehaswrittenotheroutrageousbooksabouttheLambchopfamily, includingFlatStanley,Stanleyand theMagic Lamp, Invisible Stanley, Stanley in Space, Stanley’s Christmas Adventure, and Stanley, FlatAgain!YoucanlearnmoreaboutJeffBrownandFlatStanleyatwww.flatstanleybooks.com.
MackyPamintuan isanaccomplished illustrator.He lives inSanMigueldeAllende,Mexico,withhiswifeanddog.
Forexclusiveinformationonyourfavoriteauthorsandartists,visithttp://www.authortracker.com
OTHERWORKS
DON’TMISSANYOFTHESEOUTRAGEOUSSTORIES:
FlatStanley:HisOriginalAdventure!
StanleyandtheMagicLamp
InvisibleStanley
Stanley’sChristmasAdventure
StanleyinSpace
Stanley,FlatAgain!
ANDCATCHFLATSTANLEY’SWORLDWIDEADVENTURES:
TheMountRushmoreCalamity
TheGreatEgyptianGraveRobbery
COPYRIGHT
StanleyinSpace
Textcopyright©1990byJeffBrown
IllustrationsbyMackyPamintuan,copyright©2010byHarperCollinsPublishers.
AllrightsreservedunderInternationalandPan-AmericanCopyrightConventions.Bypaymentoftherequiredfees,youhavebeengrantedthenonexclusive,nontransferablerighttoaccessandreadthetextofthise-bookon-screen.Nopartofthistextmaybereproduced,transmitted,downloaded,decompiled,reverseengineered,orstoredinorintroducedintoanyinformationstorageand
retrievalsystem,inanyformorbyanymeans,whetherelectronicormechanical,nowknownorhereinafterinvented,withouttheexpresswrittenpermissionofHarperCollinse-books.
www.harpercollinschildrens.com
LibraryofCongresscatalogcardnumber:2002027560
ISBN978-0-06-442174-4
EPubEdition©JUNE2012ISBN9780062035578
1011121314LP/CW30292827262524
FirstpublishedinGreatBritain1990byMethuenChildren’sBooksLtd.
FirstHarperTrophyedition,2003
Reillustratededition,2010
ABOUTTHEPUBLISHER
AustraliaHarperCollinsPublishers(Australia)Pty.Ltd.Level13,201ElizabethStreetSydney,NSW2000,Australiahttp://www.harpercollins.com.au
CanadaHarperCollinsCanada2BloorStreetEast-20thFloorToronto,ON,M4W1A8,Canadahttp://www.harpercollinsebooks.ca
NewZealandHarperCollinsPublishers(NewZealand)LimitedP.O.Box1Auckland,NewZealandhttp://www.harpercollinsebooks.co.nz
UnitedKingdomHarperCollinsPublishersLtd.77-85FulhamPalaceRoadLondon,W68JB,UKhttp://www.harpercollinsebooks.co.uk
UnitedStatesHarperCollinsPublishersInc.10East53rdStreetNewYork,NY10022http://www.harpercollinsebooks.com
CONTENTS
Cover
TitlePage
Dedication
1.AMorningSurprise
2.Dr.Dan
3.StanleySails
4.BacktoSchool
5.WhyMe?
6.Emma
7.WhereAreYou,Emma?
8.Hero!
9.Fame!
OtherWorks
Copyright
AboutthePublisher
1
AMorningSurprise
Mrs. Lambchopwasmaking breakfast.Mr. Lambchop, at the kitchen table, helped by reading bitsfromthemorningpaper.
“Here’sanoddone,Harriet,”hesaid.“There’sachickeninSwedenthatridesabike.”“SodoI,George,”saidMrs.Lambchop,notreallylistening.“Listentothis.‘MerkerBuildingemptied.Tobecollapsednextweek.’Imagine!Eightfloors!”“Poorthing!”Mrs.Lambchopsetoutplates.“Boys!”shecalled.“Breakfastisready!”Her glance fell upon a row of photographs on the wall above the sink. There was a smiling
Stanley,onlyhalfan inch thick,hisbigbulletinboardhavingfallenfromthebedroomwall torestupon him overnight. Next came reminders of the many family adventures that had come afterStanley’syoungerbrother,Arthur,hadcleverlyblownhimroundagainwithabicyclepump.TherewerethebrotherswithPrinceHaraz,theyounggeniewhohadgrantedwishesforthemallafterbeingaccidentallysummonedbyStanleyfromalamp.TherewastheentirefamilywithSantaClausandhisdaughter, Sarah, taken during a Christmas visit to the North Pole. There was the family again inWashington,D.C.,intheofficeofthePresidentoftheUnitedStates,whohadaskedthemtoundertakeasecretmissionintoouterspace.ThelastpictureshowedArthurstandingbesideaballoononwhichMrs.LambchophadpaintedapictureofStanley’sface.Theballoon,itsstringinfactheldbyStanley,hadbeenavaluableguidetohispresence,sincehewasinvisibleatthetime.“Boys!”shecalledagain.“Breakfast!”
Intheirbedroom,StanleyandArthurhadfinisheddressing.While Stanley filled his backpack, Arthur bounced a tennis ball. “Let’s go,” he said. “Here!
Catch!”Stanleyhadjustreachedforabookontheshelfbyhisbed.Theballstruckhisbackasheturned,
andhebangedhisshoulderonacorneroftheshelf.“Ouch!”“Sorry,”Arthursaid.“Butlet’sgo,okay?Youknowhowlong—STANLEY!”“Whyareyoushouting?”Stanleyadjustedhispack.“C’mon!I’msohungry—”Hepaused.“Oh,
boy!Arthur,doyousee?”“Ido,actually.”Arthurswallowedhard.“You’re,youknow…flat.”Thebrothersstaredateachother.“Thepump?”Stanleysaid.“Itmightworkagain.”
Arthurfetchedthebicyclepumpfromtheirtoychest,andStanleylayonhisbedwiththehoseendinhismouth.
Arthurgavealong,steady,pump.Stanleymadeaface.“Thathurts!”Arthurpumpedagain,andStanleysnatchedthehosefromhismouth.“Owww!Thatreallyhurts!It
wasn’tlikethatbefore.We’dbetterstop.”“Nowwhat?”Arthursaid.“Wecan’tjusthideinhereforever,youknow.”Mrs.Lambchop’scallcameagain.“Boys!Pleasecome!”“Domeafavor,”Stanleysaid.“Youtellthem.Sortofgetthemready,okay?”“Okay,”saidArthur,andwenttotell.
Arthurstoodinthekitchendoorway.“Hey,guesswhat?”hesaid.
“Hayisforhorses,dear,”saidMrs.Lambchop.“Goodmorning!Breakfastisready.”“Goodmorning,Arthur,”Mr.Lambchopsaidfrombehindhisnewspaper.“Where’sStanley?”“Guesswhat?”Arthursaidagain.Mrs.Lambchopsighed.“Oh,allright!Ican’tguess.Tell.”“Stanley’sflatagain,”saidArthur.Mr.Lambchopputdownhispaper.Mrs.Lambchopclosedhereyes.“Flatagain?Isthatwhatyousaid?”“Yes,”saidArthur.
“It’strue.”StanleystoodnowbesideArthurinthedoorway.“Justlook.”“Goodgrief!”saidMr.Lambchop.“Ican’tbelievethatbulletinboard—”“It didn’t fall onme this time,” Stanley said. “I just got flat.Arthur tried to pumpme up, like
before,butithurttoomuch.”“Oh,Stanley!”Mrs.Lambchoprantokisshim.“Howdoyoufeelnow?”“Fine,actually,”Stanleysaid.“Justsurprised.CanIgotoschool?”Mrs.Lambchop thought for amoment. “Verywell. Eat your breakfast.After schoolwe’ll hear
whatDr.Danhastosay.”
2
Dr.Dan
“Ah,Mr.andMrs.Lambchop!Andtheboys!”saidDr.Danastheyenteredhisoffice.“Howniceto—”Hiseyeswidened.“Goodheavens,Stanley!Mr.Lambchop,youreallymustdosomethingabout
thatbulletinboard!”“It is still firmly inplace,Dr.Dan,”Mrs.Lambchop said. “Weare at a loss to account for this
attackofflatness.”
“Hmmm.”Dr.Danthoughtforamoment.“Isthere,perhaps,afamilyhistoryofflatness?”“No,”Mr.Lambchopsaid.“We’drememberthat.”“We got dressed for school,” Stanley explained. “We didn’t even have breakfast. And all of a
sudden,Igotflat.”Dr.Danfrowned.“Nothinghappened?Nothingatall?”“Well,Arthurhitmewithatennisball,”Stanleysaid.“AndthenIbangedmyshoulderon—”
“Aha!”Jumpingup,Dr.Dantookalargebookfromthecasebehindhisdeskandbeganturningpages.“ThisisDr.FranzGemeister ’sexcellentDifficultandPeculiarCases.Justletmefind…hereitis!‘Flatness,pagetwoseventeen!’”
Hereadaloud.“‘Suddenflatness…extremelyrare…minimaldocumentation…hearsayreports…’Ah,hereitis!Datesbacktothefifthcentury!‘Duringbattle,MongotheFierce,anaidetoAttilatheHun,wasstrucktwice,simultaneously,frombehind,andatoncebecamenothickerthanhisshield.HebecameknownasMongothePlate,andlivedtooldagewithoutregaininghisoriginalgirth.’”
Dr.Danclosedthebook.“AsIsuspected!TheOBP.”“Begpardon?”saidMrs.Lambchop.“The OBP. Osteal Balance Point,” Dr. Dan explained. “A little-known anatomical feature. The
human body, of course, is a complex miracle, its skeleton a delicate framework of supports andbalances.TheOstealBalancePointmayoccuralmostanywhere in theupper torso. It isvulnerableonlytotheapplicationofsimultaneouspressuresattwopointswhichvarydependingontheageandparticular‘design,’letussay,oftheindividualinvolved.Inmyopinion,thepressurescreatedbythetennisballandtheshelfcorneraffectedStanley’sOBP,therebyturninghimflat.”
Foramoment,everyonewassilent.“ThefirsttimeStanleywentflat,youweregreatlypuzzledbyhiscondition,”Mr.Lambchopsaid
atlast.“Nowyouseemremarkablywellinformed.”“Ireaduponit,”saidDr.Dan.Mrs.Lambchopsighed.“Perhapsweshouldseeka secondopinion.Who is theworld’s leading
authorityontheOBP?”“Thatwouldbeme,”saidDr.Dan.“Isee.…Well,we’vetakenenoughofyourtime.”Mr.Lambchoprose,motioninghisfamilyto
follow.“Thankyou,Dr.Dan.”Atthedoor,Mrs.Lambchopturned.“Perhapsifwefoundthe,youknow,theOBP,wecouldmake
Stanley—”“No,no!”saidDr.Dan.“Itwouldbedangeroustoputtheladthroughsuchaskeletalstrainagain!
AndfindingtheOBP?Notverylikely,I’mafraid.”Arthurhadanidea.“Iknow!IfweallgotsticksandhitStanleyalloveratthesametime,andkept
doingit,then—”“Thatwilldo,Arthur,”Mr.Lambchopsaid,andledhisfamilyout.
3
StanleySails
EarlythenextSundaymorning,Mr.Lambchophadacallfromanoldcollegefriend,RalphJones.“Justwantedtoremindyou,George,thatStanleyandIhaveadatetogosailingtoday,”hesaid.“He’s looking forward to it, Ralph.”Mr. Lambchop hesitated. “I shouldmention, perhaps, that
Stanleyhasgoneflatagain.”Mr.Jonessighed.“Ithoughthe’dgotoverthat.Well,I’llpickhimupatten.”Later thatmorning,drivingwithStanley tohissailingclubon theseashore,Mr.Jones inquired
aboutaforeignvisitorhehadoncemetwiththeLambchops.“Aprince,yes?Hearoundthesedays?”Stanleyknewhemeanttheyounggenie,PrinceHaraz,butitwouldbedifficulttoexplainnotonly
thegeniepart,butalsothatHarazhadreturnedtothegeniekingdomfromwhichhehadcome.“No,”Stanleysaid.“Hewenthome,actually.”“Too bad.”Mr. Joneswas famous for his amazingmemory. “Haraz, as I recall. Prince Fawzi
MustafaAslanMirzaMalekNamerdHaraz?”“Right,”saidStanley.Intheharborofthesailingclub,Mr.Jonespreparedhisboat,Lovebug,andexplainedittoStanley.
“Thisbig sail here is themainsail, and that’s the rudderback there, for steering. In this zipbag isanother sail, called a spinnaker.We’ll use that one for extra speedwhenwe’re running before thewind.Seethatboatwayoutthere,howitsspinnakerispuffingoutfront?”
Stanleylaughed.Thespinnakerlookedlikeanopenumbrellalyingonitsside.“Seeoverthere,”Mr.Joneswenton,“betweenthecommitteeboat,withthejudgesonit,andthe
redbuoy?That’sthestartingline.Theraceendsbacktheretoo.Firstboattocrossthatlinewins!”
Hecastoffthemooringline,andthemainsailfilled.Lovebugheadedouttojointheotherboats.Mr.Jonespointed.“There!That’sJasperGreen’sboat,Windswept.He’stheoneIwantespecially
tobeat!”“Why?Areyoumadathim?”Stanleyasked.“Hewasveryrudetomeonce.Butnevermind.Let’sjustmakesurewewin!”Behindthestartline,theyfoundthemselvesbesideWindswept.JasperGreengaveafriendlywave,
butRalphJonesignoredhim.“You’realwaysinabadmoodwithme,Ralph,”Mr.Greensaid.“Why?Idon’t—Herewego!”Apistolshothadsignaledthestartoftherace.LovebugandWindsweptandtheotherracersglided
across the start line behind the motor-powered committee boat, which led them along a coursemarkedbybuoyswithbrightgreenstreamers.
Stanleysatback,enjoyinghimself.Thesunwasbright,thebreezefreshagainsthisface,theskyclearandblue,thewaterabeautifulslatecolor.Therewereboatsonbothsidesofthem,boatsahead,boats behind. How pretty they were, their white sails making cheerful crackling sounds as theybillowedinthewind!
Alongtheshore,peoplewavedfromtheporchesofhouses, theirvoicescarryingfaintlyonthewind. “Way to go!…Lookinggood, sailors!…Looking flat, one of them!”Stanleywavedback,knowingthattheteasingwaskindlymeant.
Lovebug passed other boats, but thereweremanymore still ahead.And now theywere almostabreastofWindswept.
StanleysawthatJasperGreenhadhoistedhisspinnaker,andthatotherboatshadtoo.“I’vegotyoubeat,Ralph!”JasperGreenshouted.“We’ll just round this point, Stanley!Then—Now!” exclaimedRalph Jones. “Let’s show Jasper
whatrunningbeforethewindreallymeans!”Heattachedhisspinnakertoahalyardandranitupthemast.Who-o-oosh!Thespinnakerbillowed
out,andStanleyfeltLovebugsurgeforward,asifpushedbyaninvisiblehand.“Herewego!”shoutedRalphJones.Theypassedfivemoreboats,threemore,thenWindswept!Theywereaheadofeveryonenow,and
thefinishlinelayahead!“We’regoingtowin!”Stanleyshouted.“Yes!”RalphJonesshoutedback.“JustwaittillJasper—”R-i-i-i-i-p!Thesoundcamefromabove.Lookingup,theysawthatthetopofthespinnakerhadtorn.R-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-p!Theripstreakeddownward,andnowthespinnaker,tornallthewaydown,flappeduselesslyinthe
wind.Lovebugslowed.“Drat!”Mr.Jonesdidhisbestwiththemainsail.“Drat,drat,drat!”Windsweptcameupbehindthem.“Toughluck!”calledJasperGreen.“Ha,ha!”“Drat!” Mr. Jones sighed. “Nothing we can do, Stanley. Unless—This may be crazy, but …
Stanley,perhapsyoucouldbeourspinnaker?”“What?”Stanleyshouted.“How?”“Good question,” saidMr. Jones. “Let’s see.…First, go take hold of themast. That’s it.Now
maybe—”
“Excuseme,”Stanleysaid.“Butdidyoueverdothisbefore?”“Stanley,nobodyeverdidthisbefore.”Mr.Jonestookadeepbreath.“Okay.Nowtwistaroundto
faceforward,andgrabthemastbehindyouaboveyourhead!”Stanleydidashewastold,plantinghisfeetonthesidesoftheboattoholdhiminplace.Thewind
pressedhimfrombehind,drivingLovebugtowardthefinishline.“Yes!Chestforward!Buttback!”shoutedMr.Jones.“BestspinnakerIeverhad!”Inamomentthey
hadpassedWindswept,andStanleycouldnothelplaughingatthesurpriseonJasperGreen’sface.Andthentheywereacrossthefinishline!Lovebughadwon!Backintheclubhouse,JasperGreenwouldnotadmitthathehadlost.Aflatpersonusedasasail?
Hehadnever seen that before, he said, andwent to the race committeeoffice to complain.ButhereturnedshortlytoreportthatLovebughadindeedwon.Thecommitteehadadvisedhim,hesaid,thattherewasnoruleagainstacrewmemberallowingthewindtoblowagainsthim.
“Greatsailing,Ralph!”hesaid.“Ithoughtitwasmyrace,Ireallydid!”“Thankyou,Jasper,”Mr.Jonessaid,butStanleynoticedthathedidnotsmile.JasperGreennoticedtoo.“Ralph,you’restillmadatme,”hesaid.“Butwhy?”“Youspilledcoffeeonmywhitepants,Jasper,”saidRalphJones.“AndyoujustlaughedwhenI
jumpedup.”“What?”JasperGreenseemedgreatlysurprised.“Idon’tremember—Where?When?”“Wewerehavinglunch,”saidMr.Jones.“AttheoldVandercookHotel.”“The Vandercook? It closed down twenty years ago!” Mr. Green slapped his forehead. “I do
remember!Thatlunchwastwentyyearsago,Ralph!”“Twenty-one,actually.”“Allright,allright!”saidMr.Green.“Iapologize,forheaven’ssake!”RalphJonessmiledwarmly.“Perfectlyallright,Jasper,”hesaid.“Don’tgiveitanotherthought.”
4
BacktoSchool
Stanleywaspleased thathisclassmates,whostill rememberedhisprevious flatness,madenogreatfussaboutitnow.Mostlytheyexpressedonlycheerfulinterest.“Feelingokay,Stan?”theysaid,and“Lookin’sharp,man!Sharp,see?Getthejoke?”OnlymeanEmmaWeekswasunpleasant.“Huh!Mr.Show-offagain!”Emmasaidoneday,butStanleypretendednottohear.
He had been back at school for a week when a newspaper, learning of this unusually shapedstudent,sentaphotographertoinvestigate.HefoundStanleywatchingapracticeonthesoccerfield.
“FlashTobin,”hesaid.“FromtheDailySentinel.You’retheflatkid,right?”Stanleythoughthemustbejoking.“Howdidyouknow?”hesaid,jokingback.“HowdidI—”Thephotographerlaughed.“Oh,Igetit!CanItakeyourpicture,kid?Righthere
bythegoalposts?”Stanleynodded,andFlashTobin tookhispicture.“Iheard therewasa flatkidherebefore,”he
said. “Helpedcatch sneak thievesat theFamousMuseumofArt.But thatkid, Iheardhegot roundagain.”
“Itwasme,”Stanleytoldhim.“Yougobackandforth,huh?”Thephotographerwasimpressed.“Okay,getroundnow.I’dlikea
shotofthattoo.”
“Ican’tjustdoitwhenIwant,”Stanleyexplained.“Thefirsttime,mybrotherhadtoblowmeup.Withabicyclepump.”
“Makeagreatpicture!”FlashTobinshookhishead.“Well,we’lljustgowithflat.”Stanley’spicturewasintheDailySentinelthenextmorning,andArthurcouldnothelpshowing
his jealousy. Stanley was always getting his picture in the paper, he said. Didn’t they see howinterestingitwouldbetohaveapictureofhisbrother?
Therewasa soccer teampractice that afternoon, and thedaywaswindy. Itwasworrisome, thecoachsaid,thewayStanleygotblownabout.Perhaps,forthesakeoftheteam,heshouldswitchtoanindoorsport.
Stanleylovedsoccer,andthemorehethoughtaboutwhatthecoachhadsaid,thesadderhefelt.
MissElliott,hishomeroomteacher,noticedthathewasnothisusualcheerfulself.“Mr.Redfield,thenewguidancecounselor,issaidtobeveryhelpfultotroubledstudents,”shetoldhim.“Iwillaskhimtofindtimeforyou.”
MissElliottspoketohimagainafterlunch.“Suchgoodluck,Stanley!Mr.Redfieldwillseeyourightafterschooltoday!”
“Comein,Stanley.Sitrightthere!”Mr.Redfieldpointedtoacomfortablechair.Stanleysat,andMr.Redfield leanedbackbehindhisdesk.“Nowthen….Youdounderstandthat
anythingyousayhereiscompletelyconfidential?Iwon’ttellanybody.”Stanleywonderedwhathecouldsaythatwouldinterestanybodyelse.“MissElliotttellsmeyouseemtroubled.”Mr.Redfieldloweredhisvoice.“What’swrong?”“I’mnotsure,actually,”Stanleysaid.Mr.Redfieldpickedupapadandapen.“Speakfreely.Whatevercomesintoyourhead.Anything
specialhappenlately?”“Well,Igotflat,”Stanleysaid.Mr.Redfieldmadeanoteonhispad.“Idoseethat,yes.Howdidthatmakeyoufeel?”Stanleythoughtforamoment.“Flat.”“Isee.”Mr.Redfieldnodded.“Thisflatness,it’scomeuponyoubefore,I’mtold.Isitpossiblethat
somehow,withoutevenadmittingittoyourself,youwantedittohappenagain?”
“Noway!”Stanleysaidfirmly.“Thefirsttime,itwaskindoffunforawhile.Flyinglikeakite,andbeingmailedtoCalifornia,thingslikethat.ButthenIgot,youknow,tiredofit.AndnowImightgetputoffthesoccerteam.”
Mr.Redfieldnoddedagain.“Youtakenopleasurenowinyourunusualshape?”Stanleythoughtforamoment.“Well,sometimes.”Hetoldaboutbeingasail,andhelpingRalph
Joneswinarace.Mr.Redfieldmadeanothernote.“Isee.Thisdreamofbeingasail,haveyoudreameditbefore?”Stanleystaredathim.“Itwasn’ta…itreallyhappened!I’mjusttiredofbeingdifferent,Iguess.”Mr.Redfield pressedhis fingertips together. “Different?Howdoyou feel different,wouldyou
say?”StanleywonderedhowMr.Redfieldcouldbeagoodguidancecounselorifhehadbothterrible
eyesightandaterriblememory.“Well,I’mtheonlyoneinmyclasswho’sflat,”hesaid.“Thewholeschool,actually.”“Interesting.”Mr.Redfieldmadeanothernoteandglancedathiswatch.“I’mafraidourtimeisup,
Stanley.Wouldyouliketoseemeagain?JustletMissElliottknow.”“Okay,”Stanleysaidpolitely,buthedidn’tthinkhewould.
5
WhyMe?
Stanleyhadlookedsadallevening,Arthurthought.Atbedtime,astheylaywaitingforMr.andMrs.Lambchoptocomesaygoodnight,hewonderedhowtocheerhisbrotherup.
Itwasraininghard,andherememberedsuddenlytherainyeveningthatStanleyhadsnackedonraisins,andbymorninghadbecomeinvisible.Alittle-knownconsequence,Dr.Danhadexplained,ofeatingfruitduringbadweather.
“Heartherain,Stanley?”hesaid.“Betternoteatanyfruit.”“Ha,ha,ha.”Stanleysoundedcross.“Justleavemealone,okay?”“Stanley’sinaterriblemood,”ArthurtoldMr.andMrs.Lambchopwhentheycamein.“Hewon’t
eventalktome.”
“What’swrong,myboy?”MrLambchopasked.“Nothing.”Stanleyputhispillowoverhishead.“Ifmypicturewas in thenewspaperpracticallyeveryday, I’dbehappy,”Arthur said. “Imean,
why—”Mrs.Lambchophushedhim.“Stanley,dear?Whatistroublingyou?”“Nothing. Nothing,” Stanley said from under the pillow, and sat up. “But whyme?Why am I
alwaysgettingflat,orinvisibleorsomething?Whycan’titjustoncebesomeoneelse?”“Iwouldn’tmind,actually,”Arthursaid.“Justforawhile.I—”“Hush,Arthur!”Mrs.Lambchopputouttheoverheadlight,litacornerlamp,andsatbyStanley
onhisbed.Mr.LambchopsatwithArthur.Thegentlepatteroftherainagainstthewindows,theglow
ofthelittlelamp,madethebedroomcozyindeed.“Ido seewhatyoumean,Stanley,”Mr.Lambchop said at last. “Whydo these thingshappen to
you?YourmotherandIdon’tknowtheanswereither.Butthingsoftenhappenwithoutthereseemingto be a reason, and then something else happens, and suddenly the first thing seems to have had apurposeafterall.”
“Wellput,George!”Mrs.LambchopsqueezedStanley’shand.“Whatwedoknow,Stanleydear,isthatwe’reveryproudofyou,andloveyouverymuch.Andweunderstandabouttheflatness,andalltheotherunexpectedhappenings,howupsettingitmustbe.”
“It sure is!” said Stanley. “How would you like never knowing when you might get flat? Orinvisible?MaybesomedayI’llwakeuptenfeettalloroneinchshort,orwithgreenhair,oratailorsomething!”
“Iknow….”Mrs.Lambchopsaidsoftly,andMr.LambchopcameandpattedStanley’sshoulder.Thentheykissedbothboys,switchedoffthelamp,andwentout.
Arthurspokeintothedarkenedroom.“Stanley?”
“I’mtryingtosleep,”saidStanley.“What?”“Iwas just thinking,”Arthur said. “If yougot invisible, and thenyougot flat, howwould they
know?”“Huh?Idon’t—”Stanleylaughed.“Oh,Igetit!Abouttheflatness.Goodone,Arthur.”Arthurlaughedtoo.
“Quiet,please,”saidStanley.“I’mtryingtosleep.”“Okay,”Arthursaid,buthechuckledseveraltimesbeforehefellasleep.
6
Emma
Mr.Lambchopcamehomeearlythenextafternoon,fullofexcitement.“Guesswhat?”hesaid.“TheoldMerkerDepartmentStoredowntown?Eightfloors,allemptied
out,waitingtobetorndown?Well,lastnightmostofitfelldownbyitself!”HeswitchedontheTV.“Newstime!Let’sgetthelatest!”
“…more on theMerker building collapse!” a newscasterwas saying. “It’s just amountain ofrubble now, folks! Threeworkmen have been treated forminor bruises, but no other injuries arereported.Thepublicisrequestedtoavoidtheareauntil—”
Ayoungwomanranon,handedhimaslipofpaper,andranoffagain.“Holdon!Thisjustin!”Thenewscasterreadfromtheslip.“Wow!Alittlegirlistrappedunderall
thatwreckage!EmmaWeeks,daughteroflocalbusinessmanOswaldWeeks!”“EmmaWeeks!”Stanleyexclaimed.“She’sinmyclass!Nowondershewasn’tatschooltoday!”
“Emma’snothurt,itappears,”thenewscastercontinued.“Firemencalledtothescenecanhearhercallingup throughchinks in thewreckage,demandingfoodandwater!ButFireChiefJohnsonhasforbiddenanyrescueefforts!Anydisturbance,anyshiftingofthewreckage,hesays,mightbringtherestofthebuildingcrashingdown!Now,here’sTomMiller!”
TheTVscreenshowedareporterwithamicrophonestandingbythewreckedbuilding.“EmmaWeeks!”shoutedthereporter,holdinghismicrophoneuptoacrack.“Doyouhearme?
Areyouallright?”Emma’svoicewasfaintbutclear.“Oh,sure!I’mjustgreat!Ihopeabuildingfallsonmeevery
day,youknow?C’mon,getmeoutofhere!”Mrs.Lambchopsighed.“Suchanunfortunatetone!Sheisundergreatstrain,ofcourse.”“Emma’salwayslikethat,”Stanleysaid.Halfanhourlater,whileMrs.Lambchopwaspreparingsupper,asirensoundedoutside,thendied
away.Openingthefrontdoor,Mr.LambchopsawaFireDepartmentcaratthecurb.OnthedoorstepstoodFireChiefJohnsonandaveryworried-lookingmanandwoman.
“Mr.Lambchop?” saidChief Johnson. “I’ll get right to thepoint, sir. I reckonyouheard aboutlittleEmmaWeeks,trappedintheMerkerwreck?Well,Mr.andMrs.Weekshere,andme,we’dlikeawordwithyoufolks.”
“Ofcourse!”Mr.Lambchopledthevisitorsintothehouseandintroducedthemtohisfamily.“Oh,Mrs.Weeks!”Mrs.Lambchopcried.“Yourpoordaughter!Youmustbedreadfullyworried!”“Weareindeed!”saidMr.Weeks.“ButChiefJohnsonthinksyourStanleymightbeabletosave
Emma!”“Who,me?”and“Who,Stanley?”saidStanleyandArthur.ChiefJohnsonexplained.“Problemisthatifapoliceman,oroneofmyfiremen,triestodighis
wayintoEmma,thewholerestofthebuildingcouldcrashdownon’em!Toobadwedon’thaveaflatfireman,Iwasthinking.Flatfellacouldsqueezethroughallthosenarrowopeningsweknowarethere,’causewehearEmmawhenshecalls.ThenIrecollectedthenewspaperstory,withapictureof
Stanleyhere.Hitmerightaway!ThatboycouldmaybewiggleintoEmma!”
Foramoment,everyonewassilent.ThenMrs.Lambchopshookherhead.“Itsoundsterriblydangerous,”shesaid.“I’msorry,butImustsayno.”“It is a tad risky,ma’am,” saidChief Johnson. “Butwe’vegot to remember the boy is already
flat.”Mrs.Weekssobbed.“Oh,poorEmma!Howarewetosaveher?”Mrs.Lambchopbitherlip.Stanley remembered something. “Iwas just thinking.”He turned toMr. Lambchop. “The other
night?WhenIgotmadaboutall thecrazy things thatkeephappening tome?Rememberwhatyousaid?Yousaid that sometimes thingshappen thatnobodycanseea reason for,and thenafterwardssomeotherthinghappens,andallofasuddenitseemslikethefirstthinghadareasonafterall.Well,Iwasjustthinkingthatmegettingflatagainwasonecrazything,andthatmaybeEmmagettingstuckwhereI’mtheonlyonewhocantrytosaveher,thatmightbethesecondthing.”
Mr.Lambchopnodded,andtookMrs.Lambchop’shand.“Weshouldbeveryproudofourson,Harriet.”
Mrs.Lambchopthoughtforamoment.“Stanley,”shesaidatlast.“Willyoubevery,very,carefulnottoletthatenormousbuildingfallonyou?”
“Okay.Sure,”Stanleysaid.Mrs.LambchopturnedtoMr.andMrs.Weeks.“WewillallowStanleytohelp,”shesaid.“Hewill
dohisbestforEmma.”“Fine boy we got here! Brave as a lion!” shouted Chief Johnson. “Now listen up, folks!Mrs.
Lambchop, you help me get things ready! Then Stanley can go right in after Emma! Got that?EverybodymeetusattheMerkerBuilding,thirtyminutesfromnow!”
7
WhereAreYou,Emma?
In the late afternoon sunlight, at the remains of the oldMerker building, the Lambchops and theWeekses watched Chief Johnson prepare Stanley for his rescue attempt. Flash Tobin, the DailySentinelphotographer,wastheretoo,takingpictures.
Mrs. Lambchop had supplied two slices of bread and cheese, eachwrapped in plastic, and hergrandfather ’s flat silver cigarette case filled with grape soda. Chief Johnson taped the bread andcheesepacketstoStanley’sarmsandlegs, thecigarettecasetohischest,andgavehimasmall,flatflashlight.
ThenheledStanleyuptoatallcrackinthewreckage.“Emma!”heshouted.“Fella’scomingtohelpyou!Whenhecallsyourname,youhollerback‘Here!’soheknowswhichwaytogo.Gotthat?”
Emma’svoicecamefaintly.“Yeah,yeah!Hurryup!I’mstarving!”ChiefJohnsonshookStanley’shand.“Goodluck,son!”TheeveningsunlightglowedwarmlyontheredbricksofthefallenbuildingasStanleystepped
closetothecrack.Mrs.Lambchopwavedtohim,andStanleywavedback.Howhandsomeheis,shethought.Howbrave,howtall,howflat!
Stanleytooktwostepsforwardanddisappearedsidewaysthroughthecrack.Amomentlatertheyheardhisshout.“Hey!It’sreallydarkinhere!”
“Hayisforhorses,Stanley!”Mrs.Lambchopcalledback.“Oh,nevermind!Goodluck,dear!”
Thiswasadarkgreaterthananyhehadeverknown.Stanleycouldalmostfeeltheblacknessonhisskin.Heclickedonhisflashlightandedgedforwardwithoutdifficulty,butthenthecracknarrowed,slowinghim.Thebreadsliceonhis left leghadscrapedsomething, loosening the tape thatheld it.Pressingthetapebackintoplace,hewiggledforwarduntilhecametowhatseemedadeadend,butalittleswingoftheflashlightshowedcracksbranchingrightandleft.
“Emma?”hecalled.“Here!”Hervoicecamefromtheright,sohemovedalongthatbranch.“Emma?”“Yeah,yeah!What?”“WhenIsayyourname,you’resupposedtosay‘Here!’”“Ialreadydidthat!”Hefollowedanothercracktotheleft.“Emma?”There was no answer. Stanley managed a few more feet and then, quite suddenly, the crack
widened.Hecalledagain.“Emma?”“Bananas!”“Keeptalking,”heshouted.“Ineedtohearyou!”“Bananas!Here!Blah,blah!Whatever!Hey,Icanseeyourlight!”Andthereshewas.Thecrackhadwidenedtobecomeasmallcave,atthebackofwhichsatEmma.
Her jeans and shirt were smudged with dirt, but it was most surely Emma, squinting against thebrightnessofhislight.
“You!”sheexclaimed.“Fromschool!Theflattie!”Don’tloseyourtemper,Stanleytoldhimself.“Iwastheonlyonetheythoughtcouldgetinhere.
Howareyoudoing,Emma?”
Emmarolledhereyes.“Oh, justgreat!Awholebuildingfallsonme,andtheysendinaflattie!AndnowI’mstarvingtodeath!”
Stanleyuntapedtheslicesofbreadandcheese,andhandedthemover.“Cheese,huh?”Emmaputhersandwichtogetherandtookabite.“Ihatecheese.Gotanythingto
drink,flattie?”“Pleasedon’tcallmeflattie.Here.”Heheldoutthesilvercigarettecase.Emmarolledhereyesagain.“I’mnotallowedtosmoke.”“It’ssoda.”Sheopenedthecigarettecaseandsipped.“Blaahh!Ihategrape!”ChiefJohnson’svoicerosefromaholeinthewallbehindher.“Stanley?Youthereyet?”Emmajerkedathumbatthehole.“It’sforyou,flattie.”
“I’mhere,Chief!”Stanleycalled.“Emma’sokay.”Heheardcheering,andthentheChief’svoicecameagain.“Seeawayout,Stan?”“Ihaven’thadachancetolookaroundyet.Emma’seating.”“We’llwait.Overandout,Stan!”“Youtoo!”Stanleycalled.HewaiteduntilEmmahadfinishedhersandwich.“Emma,howdidyougetintothismess?What
madeyoucomeinhere?”“I just cameover to look,”Emma said. “And theyhadall these signs! ‘Danger!Keepout!’All
over the place, even behind in the parking lot. ‘Keep out!Danger!Danger!’ I really hate that, youknow?Sotherewasthisdoor,anditwasopen,soIwentin.”Shefinishedthegrapesoda.“Okay,let’sgo.”
“Not theway Icame in,”Stanleysaid.“Icould justbarelysqueeze through.Andwehave tobecareful,because—”
“I know!” Emma interrupted. “Chief whatshisname kept telling me: ‘Don’t move around! Thewholerestofthebuildingmightcrashdown!’SoamIsupposedtolivedownhereforever?”
“This door you came through,” Stanley said. “How far did you come to find this sort of cave
we’rein?”“Who said anything about far? I just got inside, and therewere these crashing noises, and the
wholebuildingwasshaking,andIfelldownrighthere!Thecrashingwentonforever!IthoughtIwasgoingtodie!”
“Calmdown.”AnideacameintoStanley’shead.“Justwherewasthisdoor?Doyouremember?”“Overtheresomewhere.”Emmapointedintothedarknessofacornerbehindher.Stanleyswunghislight,butsawonlywhatseemedtobeasolidwallofsplinteredboards,rock,
andbrick.Emmapointedabitleft,thenright.“Maybethere…Idon’tknow!WasIsupposedtotakepictures
orsomething?Whatdifferencedoesitmake?”“Wemightbejustalittlebitinsidethatdoor,”Stanleysaid.“Andwhatwewantistobejustoutside
ofit.”Movingclosertothecorner,hesawthatajaggedpieceofwoodprotrudedatwaistlevel.Itcame
outeasilywhenhetugged,followedbyloosedirt.Emmastoodbesidehim.“Whyareyoumakingthismess?”Hepokedintheholewiththestick.“MaybeI’llfind—”Dirtcascadedfromthewall,coveringhisshoes.Hesawlightnow,notjustthelittlecirclefrom
hisflashlight,butdaylight!Unmistakablydaylight!“Oooohhhh!”saidEmma.Stanleymadetheholestilllarger,andtheysawthatadoorlayonitssideacrossthebottomofthe
hole,wreckage limiting the opening on both sides.But itwas big enough!Theywould be able towigglethrough!HeranbacktothewallfromwhichChiefJohnson’svoicehadcome.
“We’reonourwayout!”heshouted.“We’llbeinback,inthecourtyard!”“Gotit!”cametheChief’svoice.“Greatwork!”
StanleyturnedtoEmma.“Let’sgo!”“I’llgetalldirty,silly,”Emmasaid.“Maybewecouldjust—”“ComeON!”“Don’tyell!”Emmasaid,butshecrawledquicklythroughtheholewithStanleyrightbehindher.
8
Hero!
Therewasmuchrejoicing in thecourtyard.Mrs.LambchopkissedStanleyandArthur.Mrs.Weekskissed Emma, and then everyone else, even Flash Tobin, who had arrived to take pictures. Mr.LambchopshookhandswithMr.WeeksandChiefJohnson,whoannouncedseveraltimesthatStanleywasagreathero.
FlashTobintookagrouppictureofall theLambchops.“Needonemore,”hesaid.“Emma,justyouandStanley.Yourhero,right?Savedyourlife!”
“Icouldhavegotoutbymyself,”Emmasaid.“Ijustdidn’tknowexactlywherethedoorwas.”ButshewenttostandbyStanley.
“Smile!”FlashTobintookthepicture.“Yes,that’sgood!”HegaveStanleyacheerfulslapontheback,justasEmma’selbowjabbedhardintoStanley’sribs.
“Owww!”Stanleyyelled.
Emmagrinned.“That’sforyou,Mr.Hero!”“Areyoucrazy?What—”Stanleystopped.Everybodywasstaringathim.Hefeltpeculiar,asif—
Yes!Hewasgettingroundagain!“Wow!”Emmasaid.“Howdoyoudothat?”
“Hooray for you, dear!” shoutedMrs. Lambchop, andmore cries rose from the others in thecourtyard.“DoyouseewhatIsee?…He’sblowingup!…Arewecrazyorwhat?”
FlashTobinaimedhiscameraagain.“Holdit,kid!”Buthewas too late.Beforehimnowstooda smilingStanleyLambchop, shaped like a regular
boy!Mr.Lambchoprantohughim,andeveryoneelseapplauded.“Been thirty years with the Fire Department, and never saw anything like that!” said Chief
Johnson.“Wouldn’thavemissedit!”“I’mreallyglad,”Stanleysaid.“Butwhatmadeithappen?”“WhatDr.Dansaid!”shoutedArthur.“Remember?TheOsteo-posteo-whatever!”“TheOBP!TheOstealBalancePoint.”Mr.Lambchopsmiled.“Yes!Theslapon theback from
FlashTobin,andthepokefromEmma!Thatdidit!”AboardfellfromthetiltingroofoftheMerkerBuilding,landinginacornerofthecourtyard.“Let’sgo,folks,”saidChiefJohnson.“We’renotsafehere!”Amomentlater,backoutinthestreet,therewasmorehuggingandkissingandsayinggoodnight.
Suddenly,behindthem,thereweregreatcreakingandgrindingsounds.Turning, theywatchedwhatwasleftoftheMerkerbuildingcomecrashingdown.
Emmaspokefirst.“Oh,boy,”shesaidsoftly.“Wow!”Mrs.Weekscaughthereye,andgavealittlenodtowardStanley.Emmalookedpuzzled.“Huh?…Oh,yeah!”SheturnedtoStanley.“Iguessmaybeyou,youknow,
savedmylife.Whatever.”Shekissedhischeek.“Thankyouverymuch,StanleyLambchop.”“It’sokay,”Stanleysaid,quiteredintheface.“You’rewelcome.”Everyonewenthome.
9
Fame!
Atbedtimethenextevening,theLambchopsreadagaintheDailySentineltheyhadenjoyedsomuchatbreakfastthatmorning.
Thefrontpageheadlineread:RUDEGIRLSAVED!FLATRESCUERREGAINSSHAPE!Therewere also twoFlashTobinphotographs—theLambchop familypicture and theoneofStanley andEmma taken justbefore shepokedhim in the ribs.Arthurwasparticularlypleasedwith the familypicture.
“Finally!”hesaid.“NotjustStanley!Peoplecouldhavebeenwonderingifhehadabrother,youknow?CanIhavethisone?”
“Youmay,”saidMrs.Lambchop.“IwanttheoneofStanleywithEmma,formykitchenwall.”“Idon’tcareaboutpictures,”Stanleysaid.“IjusthopeInevergobacktobeingflat.”Mrs.Lambchoppattedhishand.“ItoldDr.Danofyourrecovery,dear.Hethinksitmostunlikely
theflatnesswilloccuragain.”“Yay!”saidStanley.Arthurcutthefamilypictureoutofthepaper,andusedaredpenciltodrawanarrow,pointingup
athim,inthewhitespaceatthebottom.Underthearrow,hewrote,Hero’sBrother.Thenhetapedthepicturetothewallabovehisbed.
SoonalltheLambchopswereasleep.
OTHERWORKS
DON’TMISSANYOFTHESEOUTRAGEOUSSTORIES:
FlatStanley:HisOriginalAdventure!
StanleyandtheMagicLamp
InvisibleStanley
Stanley’sChristmasAdventure
StanleyinSpace
Stanley,FlatAgain!
ANDCATCHFLATSTANLEY’SWORLDWIDEADVENTURES:
TheMountRushmoreCalamity
TheGreatEgyptianGraveRobbery
COPYRIGHT
Stanley,FlatAgain!Copyright©2003byJeffBrown
IllustrationsbyMackyPamintuan,copyright©2009byHarperCollinsPublishers
AllrightsreservedunderInternationalandPan-AmericanCopyrightConventions.Bypaymentoftherequiredfees,youhavebeengrantedthenon-exclusive,non-transferablerighttoaccessandreadthetextofthise-bookon-screen.Nopartofthistextmaybereproduced,transmitted,down-loaded,decompiled,reverseengineered,orstoredinorintroducedintoanyinformationstorageand
retrievalsystem,inanyformorbyanymeans,whetherelectronicormechanical,nowknownorhereinafterinvented,withouttheexpresswrittenpermissionofHarperCollinse-books.
EPubEdition©JULY2010ISBN:978-0-062-03558-5
www.harpercollinschildrens.com
LibraryofCongresscatalogcardnumber:2008939053ISBN978-0-06-442173-7
0910111213LP/CW201918
Firstpaperbackedition,2003Reillustratededition,2009
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